By Barbara Nwaiwu
The Nigeria Nature Photography Awards (NNPA) was launched on Friday, introducing a national platform aimed at celebrating Nigeria’s biodiversity through photography and strengthening public awareness of conservation.
Founded by Oluwasooto Ajayi, the initiative seeks to showcase Nigeria’s wildlife, landscapes and natural heritage while recognising photographers whose work contributes to greater appreciation of the natural environment.
Speaking at the launch, Ajayi said the awards were created to increase visibility for Nigeria’s biodiversity and encourage stronger connections between people and nature through visual storytelling.
“Nigeria is incredibly rich in biodiversity, yet much of it is not widely seen or understood,” said Ajayi. “This initiative is about changing that by using photography to deepen appreciation for our natural environment while celebrating the photographers who help tell that story.”
According to the organisers, the inaugural edition is open to photographers across Nigeria, including emerging and established professionals, with entries expected to capture wildlife, landscapes and human–nature interactions.
The awards are designed to promote biodiversity awareness, encourage national pride in Nigeria’s natural heritage and draw attention to the importance of conservation through compelling imagery and storytelling.
As part of efforts to recognise excellence, winning photographers will receive cash prizes, while selected entries will be showcased in a curated public exhibition scheduled to hold later in the year.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with organisations working across conservation, visual storytelling and public engagement.
Ninthgrid, an Afrocentric stock image platform, is supporting the development and execution of the awards by contributing expertise in African visual storytelling and digital content platforms.
Commenting on the partnership, Chief Executive Officer of Ninthgrid, Francis Odeyemi, said the collaboration aligns with the organisation’s mission.
“We are excited to collaborate on a project that amplifies African visual storytelling while highlighting the beauty and importance of Nigeria’s natural environment,” Odeyemi said. “This initiative aligns strongly with our mission to elevate authentic African imagery and create opportunities for photographers across the continent.”
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), serving as conservation partner, is providing technical support and guidance to strengthen the initiative’s contribution to biodiversity awareness.
Director of Communications, Policy and Advocacy at NCF, Mr. Kunle Olawoyin, described the awards as timely.
“This is a timely and important initiative,” Olawoyin said. “By showcasing Nigeria’s wildlife and ecosystems through photography, the Awards can inspire greater public appreciation for nature and encourage collective action to protect our natural heritage.”
Wild Africa is participating as media partner and will support efforts to expand public engagement around wildlife protection and conservation messaging.
Nigeria Representative for Wild Africa, Festus Iyorah, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s broader conservation objectives.
“Wild Africa has been working to promote the protection of wildlife and wild spaces across Africa,” Iyorah said. “This initiative brings that mission to life in a powerful way by engaging photographers and the public in celebrating Nigeria’s natural heritage.”
