Meet Samuel the 24-year-old graduate who makes good living from body painting
- A 24-year-old painter has joined other creative youths in the country that are proving that Nigerian youths are not lazy
- The young identified as Asogwa Ifeanyi Kyrian Samuel paints body for survival and he is good at what he does
- Samuel said his desire to wrest poverty and add substance to his life made him embark on the painting adventure
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When Asogwa Ifeanyi Kyrian Samuel applied to study Business Administration at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in 2014, his goal was to become a business manager but today he earns a living out of painting.
Narrating how he began his exploits into body painting for a living in an interview with Legit.ng regional correspondent Duru Victor, 24-year-old Kyrian said it all started in his first year in UNIZIK during an annual talent hunt competition which was organised by his church.
According to him, he engaged in what later became a source of income today to escape the ridicule of not having any skill to showcase at the competition which attracted a multitude of young talents.
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Source: UGC
He said:
"Honestly, it was all funny when it started at first. I didn't know I was going to go into art not to talk of painting. All I envisioned was to become a businessman engaging in buying and selling, that's why I applied for Business Administration in the university."
For Kyrian, the desire to wrest poverty and add substance to his life necessitated his painting adventure.
"I came from a family of 10 children. I was determined to add substance to my life and wrest poverty through legitimate means.
"In my first year in the university I came back home for holiday and my church was holding its annual youth week for Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON) and as is the custom in each youth week event, there was a talent hunt night.
"During the talent hunt night each youth sub-group in the church was mandated to showcase a talent on the night of talent display.
"They asked me to participate, but I told them I don't have any talent. I could neither sing nor dance like others. But after much pressure, and given my position in my church sub-group as a financial secretary I had to come up with something - I wanted to showcase any easy talent.
"In my search for an easy talent to display, I stumbled upon a lady spray painting video and I took interest and devoted time to its mastery and that was it. I wowed the crowd and eventually won the contest with my painting and from there I didn't look back".
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When Kyrian is not doing a body painting gig, he is into tattooing, photography and speed spray painting.
The multi-talented 24-year old, while appreciating his family for the massive support he has received as the only painter in the family, highlighted challenges he faces in the world of arts.
He said:
"There's really no big room for arts in Nigeria since it's not really recognized and valued.
"People don't really value it that much and can haggle as if they're doing you a favour by patronizing you.
"Currently I'm not even thinking of being a trader. I'm an artist now but the most interesting part is that I use the managerial knowledge I got from the course I studied to manage and expand my Art business."
In other news, a 22-year-old Ghanaian named Akpene Darko-Cobbina has become the youngest lawyer in Ghana after beating the record of Lawyer Adwoa Safo.
Information obtained directly by YEN.com.gh confirms that Adwoa Safo held the record as the youngest ever product of the Ghana School of Law after graduating in 2004 at age 22.
In October 2019, Akpene took over the title as he was called to the Bar at age 22 and 198 days, beating Adwoa Safo’s record of 22 years and 280 days.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
