Akeem Olaosun: how one man and his camera brought out the best of the internet

At what point does what we do become who we are? How do we know, for example, when we have crossed the line from ‘someone who enjoys taking photographs’ to ‘a photographer’? Perhaps the story of Nigerian photojournalist, Akeem Olamide Olaosun, can help us to understand.

For the last twenty five years, Akeem has, without fail, shown up for football. With his well-used DSLR in hand – a camera older than some of the players on the pitch – he has carefully and lovingly documented the matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Week in, week out, year in, year out, when so many Nigerian eyes are glued to the international game, Akeem’s lens has stayed focused on local players, plenty of whom have gone on to find fame and fortune as far afield as the Bundesliga, Serie A, the Premier League and La Liga.

Although the NPFL has been the lifeblood of Nigerian football since the early 1970s (when it was just the Nigerian National League), it’s had its fair share of challenges. Over the years it has been rebranded and reformed more than once, not only to reflect the times, but to appeal to new audiences and claim a place on the global footballing stage. So, the consistent images from ‘Ola Photo Sports’, as Akeem is fondly known, have been important in keeping the sport, and the league, in the public consciousness through thick and thin.

But this is not just his job, and these are not just photographs. Nor is he simply a superfan with a camera (although he freely admits that football is his life, sometimes to the annoyance of his wife!). Akeem has, without fuss or fanfare, found himself occupying a unique space in Nigerian photojournalism that is both of these things and more. His work has quietly created a faithful record of over quarter of a century of footballing history, with all its drama, triumphs and bitter near misses. As well as being a passionate and patient chronicler, he has – without even realising it – become an inspiration to those who have followed in his footsteps.

It was only after a quarter of a century photographing teams such as Kano Pillars, Rangers International and Enyimba FC, travelling from stadiums in Lagos to Ibadan, that someone finally pointed their camera at him. Early in 2024, a young photographer called Taofeek Ibrahim Adeshina (who also goes by the online name of FotoNugget) posted a snap of himself and Akeem sat together on all his social media profiles. And while it was a charming and heartfelt moment, showing two generations of sports photography professionals in their natural habitat, there was one thing that really stood out to his followers – Akeem’s trusty Canon DSLR.Scratched and weathered by time, but still capturing the powerful images that are his stock in trade. 

“Somehow, I feel we should come together and change his camera. Loyalty and dedication should be rewarded”, reposted photographer, David Obi, alongside hundreds of others. And just like that, the internet did what it does when it’s at its absolute best – it shared. The outpouring of appreciation and admiration from football fans, players and professionals across the country came in waves, with most wanting to contribute to some kind of crowdfunder. So, Taofeek quickly set it up and his feeds, usually filled with his photography and travels, were dedicated to raising money to upgrade Akeem’s kit and pay for an exhibition of his work.

Of course, it didn’t take long for the campaign to reach us, and we immediately spotted Akeem’s dedication to his profession, beloved sport and the community he has inspired. So, when Peter Saak, Vice-President, Developing Regions and Somesh Adukia, Canon Central and North Africa’s Managing Director, next visited Nigeria, they met with him to honour his contribution to the industry and present him with a new EOS R50 camera.

With over a million views of the original social media post alone, it’s safe to say that this story of a veteran sports photojournalist, his timeworn camera and calling to Nigerian football became a bona fide viral moment. But why? And this is where we see that line, the one that lies between what we do and who we are. What Taofeek recognised, we saw and the online world responded to, was a glimpse into something rare – a person devoting their life to a calling for no other reason than love. Akeem has kept showing up and lifting his camera for over twenty-five years. And even if not a single person saw him or the images he captured, he would continue to do so. This is what it means to be a photographer. And this is who Mr Akeem Olamide Olaosun is.