Teenager with autism hands over official Guinness World Record documentation to government tourism official

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The 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 686-mile cycling expedition from Enugu to Lagos.

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The presentation took place in Abuja, where the minister described the teenager as an inspiration to Nigeria and the global autism community.

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According to a statement issued on Thursday by Nneka Anibeze, the Special Adviser to the minister, Musawa praised Kanye’s resilience, creativity and determination, while commending his family for supporting and nurturing his talents.

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“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,” the minister said.

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She 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.”

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Earlier, Kanye’s mother, Silvia Tagbo-Okeke, formally presented the certificate to the minister and thanked her for supporting the teenager’s advocacy and artistic projects over the years.

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“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.

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“We are here to officially present the record to our ‘Mummy’ because you have always supported us and our exhibitions over the years,” she added.

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Dr Tagbo-Okeke also disclosed that Kanye is scheduled to hold an art exhibition at the United Nations headquarters in New York from May 20 to August 25, 2026.

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Kanye, accompanied by his family and support team, completed the cycling expedition between March 19 and April 2, 2026, travelling across several states from Enugu to Lagos.

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The journey, which promoted autism awareness and tourism, featured community engagements and official receptions showcasing Nigeria’s culture, heritage and landscapes.

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The feat also established him as the youngest person to cycle more than 100 miles, surpassing the benchmark with a total distance of 686 miles covered during the expedition.

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