…Says Award Is Victory For Nigeria, Triumph For African Storytelling
Dayo Adedayo
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, President, Nigeria Golf Federation and President, World Crafts Council (Africa Region), and former Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), has felicitated with Mr. Dayo Adedayo on his conferment as Africa’s Best Tourism Photographer of the Year 2026 at the African Tourism Awards in London.
According to him, this is not just an award, this is history. This is a landmark achievement, well deserved, in view of Adedayo’s outstanding contributions to the development and growth of the travel and tourism sector in Nigeria
FOUR DECADES BEHIND THE LENS, FOUR MILLION IMAGES OF NIGERIA
For over four decades behind the lens, Dayo Adedayo has captured the breathtaking beauty, rich culture, and extraordinary heritage of Nigeria.
With his creative ingenuity, he has conspicuously put Africa on the global tourism map, loudly telling the story from the perspective of a passionate player in the industry
In his felicitation letter, Otunba Runsewe wrote with great pleasure and a profound sense of personal pride:
“It is with great pleasure and a profound sense of personal pride that I write to felicitate with you on the conferment of the prestigious award of Africa’s Best Tourism Photographer of the Year 2026, at the African Tourism Award in London.”
“This landmark achievement is well deserved, in view of your outstanding contributions to the development and growth of the travel and tourism sector in Africa.”
Recalling their encounters during his tenure as Director-General of NTDC, Runsewe said:
“I recall with a deep sense of nostalgia the passion you brought to bear in discharging your duties in all our encounters during my tenure as the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation. You were such an exciting and highly innovative person to work with.”
“Indeed, this award, which is a recognition of your invaluable contributions to the Travel and Tourism industry in Africa, is yet another feather on your highly decorated professional crown. I have no doubt in my mind that it will serve as a source of further motivation to you in our collective task of repositioning Nigeria as the hub of tourism in Africa.”
“Once again, accept my congratulations and the assurances of my usual personal regards and best considerations.”
Dayo Adedayo did not become Africa’s Best Tourism Photographer by chance. He became it by consistency. By travelling to every state in Nigeria. By documenting every festival, every palace, every river, every mountain, every people. By telling Africa’s story with an African lens, not a foreign lens.
While others were writing Nigeria off, Adedayo was photographing Nigeria up. While others were saying Nigeria has nothing to show, Adedayo was showing 4 million images to prove them wrong.
A destination without images is a destination without visitors. Adedayo gave Nigeria images. And now, the world is coming to see what he showed them.
Otunba Runsewe urges the Federal Government, NTDA, the private sector, and all lovers of Nigerian culture and tourism to celebrate Dayo Adedayo as a national asset.
His award is a call to all of us: Let us document Nigeria. Let us photograph Nigeria. Let us tell our story ourselves, before others tell it for us, wrongly.
Dayo Adedayo has done his part for over forty years. Now, Nigeria must do her part – by honouring him, by supporting him, and by using his work to market Nigeria to the world.
