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,

Remi Tinubu reportedly refuses to shake Saraki's hand during her swearing-in

Though there's a photo of them laughing nd being cordial, there's a viral report that Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Bola Tinubu, refused to shake hands with the new Senate President Bukola Saraki after her swearing in this morning.

Senator Tinubu alongside 28 other APC Senators who were absent when the Senate was inaugurated yesterday, were sworn in as Senators this morning. After their swearing-in, Protocol demands that they proceed to the Senate President to shake his hand and show him their certificate. Every other senator observed the protocol except Tinubu who only showed him her certificate and reportedly ignored his handshake.


The APC Senators who were absent during yesterday's Senate inauguration and sworn in today include the party's desired choice for Senate President and Deputy Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and George Akume. Others are Senators Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos), Olusola Adeyeye (Osun), Isiaka Adeleke (Osun), Shehu Sani (Kaduna) and Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos). In all 26 of them were sworn in.

Lawan’s Group Threatens Legal Action Against Saraki’s Election

Members of the Senate Unity Forum, on Wednesday threatened to take a legal action against the election of Senator Bukola Saraki, which, according to them, did not follow due constitutional procedure.
The leader of the group, Senator Barnabas Gemade, stated this while addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, after he led members of the group to stage a walkout in the chambers.
Gemade said 51 senators were not allowed to take part in the election of the Senate president because they were waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari, who invited them to a meeting at the International Conference Centre.
He said his group would, very soon, challenge the alleged illegality in court, “since it takes two-third of members to impeach the Senate president, two third of the members should also have been in attendance before he was elected on Tuesday.”
He said, “Our right to participate in the election of the Senate president is a constitutional right which cannot be taken away by any person or group of persons.
“The Clerk of the National Assembly knowing full well that the quorum for election of the Senate president has not been met, went ahead to conduct an election that shuts the door on about 51 other senators which would remain unacceptable until what would meet democratic parameters was done.”
But members of the Like Minds Senators, at another news conference addressed by Senator Dino Melaye, in company with four others, maintained that due process was followed in the election of Saraki as Senate president.
Melaye also dared the SUF members to challenge the action in court even as he expressed full confidence that the case lacked necessary merit.

Photos: Buhari stands with Obama & other world Leaders in group pic at G7summit

Our President on the front roll with other world leaders including Barack Obama & David Cameron. The world leaders also addressed the press at the summit in Germany today June 8th.

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Pres. Buhari & VP Osinbajo’s Declaration of Assets Report to be Made Public Within 100 Days

President Muhammadu Buhari says his declared assets and those of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be released to the public after their verification by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

It is hoped that this process will be completed before the expiry of the 100-day deadline within which the Bureau officials said they would do it.

The Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, to the President, Garba Shehu,gave the indication in a statement on behalf of the President on Saturday.

“The duly completed forms by both the President and the Vice President were submitted to the CCB on March 28, a clear day ahead of their inauguration,” the statement said.

It said the statement was to clarify some suggestions that the President and the Vice-President might not, after all, declare their assets publicly.

The statement said:

While such public display of concern is appreciated and valued, it must be said that it is a little precipitate.As required by law, the declaration and submission of documents to the CCB have been made, but there still remains the aspect of verification which the Bureau will have to conduct to authenticate the submissions made to it. In the circumstances, it is only after this verification exercise, and not before, that the declaration can be said to have been made and validated; and only after this, will the details be released to the public.

There is no question at all that the President and the Vice President are committed to public declaration of their assets within the 100 days that they pledged during the presidential campaign.

The President and the Vice President wish to thank Nigerians for their show of concern, and for the confidence they have shown in their leaders’ integrity, as evidenced by the high pedestal of uprightness and expectations on which they have placed them.

Photo Credit: NAN-PHOTO