11-Year-Old Nigerian Artist Wins Top Taiwan's Award

A 11-year old Nigerian hyper-realistic artist, Kareem Waris Olamilekan, has been named the winner of a top Taiwanese award.

Kareem Waris Olamilekan emerged the recipient of Taiwan’s Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation‘s “22nd Fervent Global Love of Lives Award”.

According to the organizers of the award, the young artist beat 2,723 other international candidates to clinch the prize.

The award was organized by the government of Taiwan to recognize an international artist as part of its celebration of the 22nd Fervent Global Love of Lives Award. Taiwan Ambassador in Nigeria Vincent Yang, broke the news to the public.

He said that Waris Kareem won the award defeating  2,723 other candidates across the world.

The ambassador also disclosed that Waris Kareem would meet the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

According to him, Kareem will attend charity events with other laureates, scheduled from  20 to 28 September in Taipei during which he will meet the Taiwanese President.

Despite his young age, Waris Kareem has gained global recognition for his incredible drawings.

Yang said that his office and the Head of Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria had hosted and congratulated Kareem.

Waris Kareem is not new to the big stage or meeting famous presidents.

He gained global fame in 2018 after he sketched a stunning portrait of French President, Emmanuel Macron, on the spot in just two hours.

He completed the sketch of the President during the President’s visit to Lagos. The work amused not just the President but the world in general.

Congratulations to the young Nigerian. Thank you for making Africa proud!

Header Image Credit: Punch