From squatter to presidential photographer, Bayo Omoboriowo narrates how he became Buhari’s cameraman without connection

Bayo Omoboriowo, the ex-official photographer of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has narrated how he got an appointment to be his cameraman without knowing any bigwig in his political circle.

 

Omoboriowo, who is also the founder of MadHouse by Tikera, made this known in an interview with Channels Television on Monday.

 

He noted that his talent as a creative and freelance documentary photographer gave him the platform to work with the former President while adding that he created his MadHouse for creative talents to explore limitless opportunities abound in the creative world so as to maximise their potential without knowing anybody.

 

Explaining how his passion led him to Buhari, the celebrated cinematographer said he sacrificed his time to take free pictures for several events in Lagos and documentaries for the BellaNaija blog until luck smiled on him when someone contacted him from the United Kingdom that they wanted him to take a photography role with them.

 

 

“I returned to the University of Lagos after my service year as a squatter in one of the hostels to learn Photoshop despite being a graduate of Pure and Applied Chemistry. That’s where I learned the quality I now give to my job today.

 

“BellaNaija started showing what we were doing, and the world started noticing my craft. So, being celebrated on a global stage started in 2012 when I won the Future Awards for the Creative Artist of The Year. From there, I won several awards.

 

“In 2014, I saw an advert for the APC National Convention, but before then, I had photographed former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi’s campaign, where he lost. I also photographed former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. When I got to the APC convention for coverage, they stole my phone and it was at that point Buhari was voting. It was there I told God to reward my handwork. I don’t know anybody, I was only passionate about my talent.”

 

 

Continuing, he said, “In January 2015, I was called. Buhari needed a photographer, and I was the one that fit in. I don’t know anybody or his associate. In fact, the only time I entered Aso Villa was when I was an awardee. Then, a campaign started. We went to Rivers, where the campaign started, and then I started taking his photographs.”

 

He further appreciated one Debola Williams for creating a platform that gave him leverage as the branding firm hired to package Buhari’s electioneering.

 

Omoboriowo was formally appointed by Buhari as his official photographer in 2015 and was also reappointed in 2019.