From a poor boy in Mushin to the president's official photographer - The inspiring story of Bayo Omoboriowo

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,