Young Artist Kendis Receives ₦2.5m and Full Scholarship for Viral Portrait of Senator Yayi

A seven-year-old artist, Kendis, has been rewarded with a substantial cash gift of ₦2.5 million and a full scholarship up to university level by Senator Solomon Adeola, also known as Yayi, after painting a remarkable portrait of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State. The young artist's work gained widespread attention on social media, particularly on TikTok, where it was shared through his father's account, @noahs_ark.ng. During Senator Adeola's Scholarship and Bursary Award Ceremony, Kendis was invited to present the original portrait, and it was there that he received the scholarship and cash reward. The ceremony, which took place on Sunday, saw Kendis being warmly welcomed by Senator Adeola and his wife, Temitope Adeola, before the announcement of the scholarship and cash gift. This gesture was met with applause from the attendees, who viewed it as a significant encouragement for young talents. Kendis's journey to creating the portrait began with conversations he had with his father about their daily struggles. He recalled how his father would often say, 'Things will get better soon,' whenever they were served food without certain necessities. The young artist eventually asked his father when 'soon' would come, to which his father replied, 'Tomorrow.' However, Kendis realized that 'tomorrow never comes,' and instead of waiting, he decided to express his hopes through art. In a video shared on TikTok, Kendis explained that he wanted to 'paint tomorrow today' and not wait endlessly for a better future. Through his artwork, Kendis conveyed a message of hope, joy, and happiness, stating, 'We painted our future now. We painted our tomorrow today.' The recognition and reward Kendis received for his portrait serve as a testament to the power of creativity and perseverance.