Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, on Wednesday received a Guinness World Record certificate from 15-year-old autistic artist and cyclist, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, following his remarkable 686-mile cycling journey from Enugu to Lagos.
The presentation ceremony took place in Abuja, where the minister praised the teenager’s resilience, creativity, and determination, describing him as an inspiration to Nigeria and the global autism community.
According to a statement released on Thursday by Nneka Anibeze, Special Adviser to the minister, Musawa commended both the young achiever and his family for nurturing his talent and supporting his advocacy work.
“Kanye is the personification of what makes us want to be better human beings. He continues to break every single glass ceiling and surpass every expectation,” Musawa said.
She further added, “When the world talks about the greats, and the likes of Mandela, I have no doubt that somewhere, the name Kanye will be there. I even believe that one day, he may be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. That is something I feel in my spirit.”
Kanyeyachukwu’s mother, Dr Silvia Tagbo-Okeke, formally presented the Guinness World Record certificate to the minister during the event and expressed appreciation for her consistent support.
“This second Guinness World Record is for cycling. He cycled from Enugu to Lagos, and it was also a tourism journey, captured along the way with community engagements and receptions in various states,” she said.
She added that the presentation was made in recognition of the minister’s continued encouragement of their artistic and advocacy initiatives.
Dr Tagbo-Okeke also disclosed that the teenager is set to hold an art exhibition at the United Nations headquarters in New York from May 20 to August 25, 2026.
The cycling expedition, completed between March 19 and April 2, 2026, saw Kanye travel across multiple states, engaging communities and showcasing Nigeria’s cultural and tourism potential.
The achievement also earned him recognition as the youngest person to complete a cycling distance exceeding 100 miles, with a total of 686 miles covered during the journey.
