World Photography Day: Be up and doing in your career, Lagos Commissioner advises photojournalists

Lagos State Commissioner for information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso has advised Photojournalists to be up and doing in their chosen career.

Mr. Omotoso, who was represented by NUJ Secretary, Lagos chapter, Mr. Tunde Olalere,  gave the advice at the weekend during the Photojournalists Association of Nigeria ( PJAN) Lagos Chapter 2021 annual World Photography Day lecture, held at the International Press Centre Ogba.

The Chairperson, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Comfort Nwankwo commended PJAN for organising a lecture aimed at improving the lives of it members. She added that Photojournalism is the light to the world because photo speaks more than words, noting that Photojournalists should be creative and innovative in the course of searching for newsworthy photographs.

The first Guest Speaker for the day, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, a renowned Journalist with many years of experience in the media, advised Photojournalists to take good photos that could win awards for them and also make efforts to put in for photo awards and competitions.

He encouraged Photojournalists to not only take photos but as well improve themselves through education to increase their writing skill, tap into multi-media skills as all of these will bring in more strings of income to their pockets.

The second Guest Speaker, Mr. Dayo Adedayo a well-travelled Photographer, who is also an author of several books on photography, restated the need for photojournalists to educate themselves to a level where they can fit into society.

He lectured the participants at the event on how to make money from photography in three hundred ways.

He admonished Photojournalists to do more of abstract photography that will attract foreign photo buyers.

The acclaimed Photo guru who made his name from Photography said he has over five million photos in his archive restating the need for  Photojournalists to store their works because that will be their wealth later in life.

The Director, International Press Centre and a former NUJ Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Lanre Arogundade also added his voice to others, urging Photojournalists to improve on their educational level so that they could be able to fit into any available field they feel like engaging in.

He advised Photojournalists to attend workshops and trainings that would help to impact their careers.

The Chairman of Photojournalists Association of Nigeria (PJAN) Mr. Kola Olasupo, said PJAN organized  the lecture to mark the 2021 World Photography Day as celebrated globally by Photographers annually.

He added that the aim of the lecture was to add to the knowledge of its members with the aim of taking their careers to the next level.

Other guests at the event were the Head of Department, General Studies, Dr. Boye Ola and Akintunde Akinleye, a winner of the World Press Photo Award (2007) who is also a photojournalist with Reuters.

The event featured the selection of the 2021 best photo of the year which attracted monetary reward.  An award was instituted and sponsored by Mr. Dayo Adedayo.

The Director, International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade promised to partner with PJAN in its subsequent programmes.

For a better society