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