In 2024, the British Institute of Professional Photography crowned Ayodeji Awoyomi, a fine-art photographer from Ekiti State, as the International Photographer of the Year. Over a thousand artists from around the world submitted entries but it was Ayodeji's image, its delicate blend of childhood, memory, identity that stood out.

For those who saw his work, it was more than just a photo. It was a message that Nigerian stories told through light and shadow are worthy of global applause.

And for a generation of creatives, Ayodeji did not just raise a trophy, he raised hope.