Godiva Omoruyi: Nigerian portrait, fashion, and street photographer capturing everyday life in Lagos | 54Ruum Spotlight

Godiva Omoruyi is a Nigerian photographer and visual storyteller who focuses on the vibrant culture and daily life in Lagos. With a background in various photography styles, he captures often-overlooked spaces that reveal the essence of identity and community.

In his series "Made in Lagos," Godiva captures the city's lively street life with intimacy and authenticity. In his latest project, "Cabinet of Curiosity," he focuses on the dashboards of Lagos buses — personal shrines that showcase the city's people's resilience and inventive spirit. These details reveal the meaningful reflections on life in Lagos.

How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

I am a storyteller who finds beauty and meaning in everyday life, using photography to connect people with the culture around them. I pay close attention to detail and excel at observation.

How did you get started in photography?

My mom enrolled me in a Technical School after I finished secondary school. The school offered training in various skills. Initially, I learned graphic design but found it unsatisfying.

I wanted a way to express myself more creatively, so I decided to apply for the photography program in the next batch. While the course primarily taught us how to use a camera, I learned most of what I know from YouTube.

What type of photography do you specialise in, and why this speciality?

Portraits, street photography, and fashion are ways I have found to express myself.

What are the underlying themes or ideas that drive your photography?

Curiosity and everyday life in Lagos inspire me. I’m particularly drawn to small details — objects, gestures, and spaces — that reveal how people express their identity, beliefs, and memories in subtle ways.

Through my images, I connect with others by highlighting familiar moments. Instead of explaining everything, I allow room for viewers to see themselves in my work, recognise shared experiences, and feel a sense of closeness across different lives and places.

What accomplishment or moment in your photography career are you most proud of?

My project, "Cabinet of Curiosity," is an achievement I am proud of. It was featured on WePresent.

What's the biggest challenge you've faced as a photographer?

I was self-sabotaging my efforts by focusing too much on others' work. I had to ground myself and kept repeating, "Trust your process."

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?

Nikon is an admirable brand, and I would love to collaborate with them. I have been using Nikon cameras since I started photography, and I am eager to try their new models. Currently, I use a Nikon D7100 with a 35mm f/1.8 lens.

What do you think of the 54Ruum platform?

54Ruum is a great platform for African photographers. It showcases diverse voices, provides visibility for creatives, and fosters community across the continent. I view it as a space for connection and inspiration, rather than a traditional opportunity platform.

How's the photography and art space in your country?

Nigeria’s photography and art space is thriving in multiple layers — structurally, conceptually, and socially. There’s more institutional support, more global engagement, and more spaces that treat photography and visual art as vital parts of cultural discourse, not just decorative aesthetics. All these shifts mean artists have increasingly visible, valued, and connected platforms to tell their stories.

What advice would you give to someone starting in photography?

Theory is essential, accounting for about 20% of the journey, while the remaining 80% involves hands-on practice — shooting, experimenting, and discovering things along the way.