Meet Bayo Omoboriowo, 28yrs Old Official Photographer To Nigeria’s President Buhari

For many Nigerians on social
media, we always admire the
beautiful pictures of our new
President, Muhammed Buhari. We
admire the elegance and the story
the pictures portray, we salute the
aesthetics behind the image but
not many know that the guy
behind it all is Bayo Omoboriowo
the official photographer of the
president and amazingly, he’s just
28.
When I met Bayo for the First time February 14 this
year at Buhari Valentine dinner here in Lagos, I did
not know who he was, he was dressed in an
impeccable manner, with suit and tie and then was
carrying his camera like a baby I thought he was just
one of those “I just came back to Nigeria” guys who
like over dressing with their camera not until he told
me to stand for him to take a snap shot of me, I did
and after the shoot, we got talking, when he
mentioned his name, I remembered I had read his
interview 3 years back, an Interview he did with Bella
Naija talking about his passion for photography, his
dreams and where he want to be in the years to
come using the instrument of his camera.
My respect for him grew higher that moment and I
told myself: “Indeed Dreams come true” Bayo
Omoboriowo was born without silver spoon, he tasted
poverty, experienced the low esteem Poverty inflicts
on its victims but never allowed his past to define
him, he decided to change his story and that he has
successfully been able to do looking at what he has
done for himself within a space of 6 years
He took his destiny by his hand, discovered his
passion which was photography, refined and turned it
to a business and income making project.
One thing you have to give to this young man is this,
he never allowed the distraction that being a youth
bring to distract him from his focus , he graduated
from University Of Lagos in 2009 and since then he
has only been doing one thing, Photography and
today, he is the official photographer of our dear
President.
Bayo is one of the 20 man delegation that followed
Buhari to Germany On Sunday , seeing his name on
that list brought smile to my face, this shows how far
he has gone and where God has taken him to. I could
not have been prouder of my generation and the
envelop we are pushing, the stories we are changing
and the boundaries we are taking in spite of the
difficulties of being a Young Nigerian.
Bayo’s life is teaching young people what is possible
and doable, , a man born in poverty at Mushin Lagos
28 years ago is flying with the President all over the
world today because of his passion and determination
to give meaning to his life, what then is your excuse?
Life is too short to just waste on unnecessary
gallivanting. Discover your passion, key into it and
start now. You don’t need capital to start, you just
need few people who believe in your passion and
would do anything to see it come to fruition.
Your network determines your net worth; those
friends around you have a lot to do with your
tomorrow, more than you know. Bayo’s of this world
are passing a compelling message to young people to
leave every other thing that is distracting them and
run with their dreams. Lives and destinies are tied to
that dream and that is the more reason you need to
take that bold step and believe in your ability to do it.
Again let me emphasize, Bayo started from the
bottom, he started with zero capital. he had nothing
except his incredible belief in God and the dream he
has and nothing more.
I wish you all the best in this journey and hope to
celebrate your journey tomorrow.

Chukwudi Iwuchukwu Is A PR Consultant and Passive
Lawyer,