Article sent in and written by Chukwudi Iwuchukwu
Meet Bayo Omoboriowo; President Buhari’s official photographer and guess what? He is just 28.
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,
