These Top Best Nigerian Photographers and many others have helped Photography stand out as a reputable profession in the country.
Photographs are an excellent way of saving memories. No matter how hard you try, you cannot retain all the memories you’d like to. Photographs help achieve this and photographers help make this easier.
Gone are the days when photographers were seen as jobless people who go around doing what was termed wash and take. Today, photographers in Nigeria have gone on to make Photography become one of the most reputable professions in the country.
They have created niches for themselves in various aspects ranging from nature to celebrity life and many others.
Today you will meet the Top Best Nigerian Photographers and get to know what they do and why they stand out.
In no particular order:
Bayo Omoboriowo
He is a multiple award-winning photojournalist and documentary photographer. He currently functions as the Chief Official Photographer to the Nigerian President, a position he has held since May 2015.
Omoboriowo is the author of several books, including Discover Nigeria, an extensive photo and text documentary on Nigeria’s people, places, and culture.
In 2021, his book, Discover Nigeria, set a Guinness World Record for the largest photobook.
Omoboriowo’s photographs have been featured in art exhibitions and published on national and international journalism platforms.
Obi Somto
This creative Nigerian Photographer holds a Bsc in Banking and Finance. He was born in Lagos state, Nigeria and he schooled at Babcock university. He is fluent in Igbo and English.
Although he was already art inclined from a young age, drawing, painting, carving, and molding, he officially started taking pictures in his final year in university with a digital SLR camera he bought from money saved from graphic design.
His service year in Akwa Ibom afforded him much time to explore photography and make up his mind about taking it up as a career. The decision he made and his diligence and consistency, afforded him the opportunity to photograph a number of celebrities and politicians, covering people like Agbani Darego and even the Former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Johnathan.
Adeola olagunju
Adeola olagunju has bagged a number of awards including the Lagos Photo Festival Award Prize for the year 2012 and the Young ArtFund Amsterdam Award for the year 2013.
The graduate of fine and applied art from Ladoke Akintola University first worked as a graphic artist for advertising agencies before exploring and expanding her photography in Ogbomosho.
Her discipline and work ethic has made it possible for her to take part in exhibitions like the 2013 GO-SLOW diaries of personal and collective stagnation in Lagos, and the 2013 Goethe Institut Nigeria Masterclass Exhibition amongst others.
Kelechi Amadi
Kelechi is a creative Nigerian photographer and the publisher of Style Mania magazine. This very talented photographer is also a trained lawyer. He stands out as one of the Best Nigerian photographers.
He has worked with several top brands within and outside Nigeria; the likes of Guinness Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, and British American Tobacco, to mention just a few.
Kelechi is one of the founding members of the Nigerian Photography collective Depth of Field, of which TY Bello is a part. He has photographed several big names including the world’s richest black man, Aliko Dangote.
TY Bello
Toyin Sokefun Bello, popularly known as Ty-Bello practiced journalism for some time before settling for photography.
Although she is also known as a musician who majors mostly in Christian songs. Her transition to photography and the life-changing effects her photography has had on many people cannot be ignored.
Her expertise helped transform Olajumoke Orisagua from a bread seller to a model, bringing her to the limelight. TY Bello’s fantastic photography has landed her a spot as a member of their Nigerian Photography Collective, Depth of Field.
She gained a degree in Economics from the University of Lagos and tried her hand in a group, called Kush, but most success has been recorded in her photography. She currently photographs major politicians and works for Thisday fashion Magazine
George Osodi
If you are looking for a great photojournalist? George Oshodi fits the bill.
Osodi started out by documenting the environmental breakdown and pollution going on in his hometown, Niger Delta for about 4 years. This work drew attention to the damages the multi-national oil firms were causing to the land and its people.
He moved to documenting and preserving the Nigerian culture, archiving and reminding the Nigerian people of their deep roots and the beauty of the Nigerian heritage.
His series “ Nigerian Monarch” points to the royal structures that were predominant in pre-colonial History.
Jide Odukoya
Odukoya is an excellent and creative self-taught photographer. He started out in the cities of Lagos, Ogun, Ibadan, Ekiti, Benue, and Abuja, praticing and polishing his skills by drawing attention to the beauty in these places. His creativity helped to inspire love of tourism and travel.
He resides and works in Lagos Nigeria, documenting projects about lifestyle, socio-economic issues, health, and outstanding issues in Nigeria, bringing them to the limelight, and telling the stories from different perspectives.
Aisha Augie-Kuta
The winner of the 2011 future award for creative artist of the year, is mixed-race and of mixed tribe and based in Abuja.
She is a Hausa from Argungu local government area.
Aisha rose to fame when she publicized her faces of Africa portraits of painted female faces from the Surma tribe of Ethiopia. Her creativity offers her viewers new perspectives of beautiful sights such as seen in her photographs of the Fulani mud huts in Abuja.
She is keen on documentaries, fashion photography, and even aerial location shots.
