A Nigerian environmental photographer Adebote Mayowa, has been named as one of the winners in the “Climate Action in Focus” international photography competition, organised by the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company.
Mayowa clinched third place with his entry, titled ‘Makoko’, highlighting Nigeria’s environmental challenges.
Launched on August 1, 2024, the “Climate Action in Focus” contest aimed to raise global awareness about climate change and support environmental protection efforts through visual storytelling.
The COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company, in a statement on its website, noted that the competition invited photographers worldwide to document the impacts of climate change on daily life, emphasizing the power of photography to inspire climate action.
The first prize went to Myanmar photographer So Pyay Lynn for his impactful image titled Hard Life, while Hungarian photographer Adam Fath claimed second place with his evocative piece, Flowers of the Drying Lake.
These works, alongside Mayowa’s Makoko, capture the urgency of climate issues, encouraging reflection on solutions to the climate crisis.
The statement revealed that nearly 20 photographers from countries including the United States, Germany, Hungary, Myanmar, Nigeria, and more participated in the competition.
Their entries provided unique perspectives on climate change’s impact on various aspects of life, underscoring the global nature of the issue.
The top images, selected by a jury of professional photographers, showcase how climate change affects communities around the world, from drying lakes to the bustling yet vulnerable waterway settlements of Nigeria’s Makoko community.
An exhibition of selected photographs from the competition will be held on November 20 at the Azerbaijan Pavilion within the Green Zone during COP29.
The exhibition aims to provide winners and participants an opportunity to convey their climate messages to a global audience and foster international collaboration on addressing climate issues.
Through Makoko, Mayova brings Nigerian environmental concerns into focus, adding a Nigerian voice to the international climate dialogue at a crucial time for global climate action.
The winning entry tagged ‘makoko’
Adebote Mayowa: Championing Climate Awareness Through Visual Storytelling
Adebote Mayowa, Creative Director of Climagraphy, is at the forefront of climate change advocacy in Nigeria.
Through powerful visuals, Climagraphy has emerged as a leading media organization dedicated to raising climate awareness, documenting environmental challenges, and highlighting the urgent need for climate action across Nigeria and the African continent.
With over five years of experience in visual storytelling, Mayowa has built a portfolio that underscores the harsh realities of climate change, particularly its impact on vulnerable communities in Nigeria and beyond. His commitment to climate justice has earned him recognition as one of Nigeria’s most versatile environmental and documentary photographers, committed to making climate issues accessible through impactful exhibitions and documentary projects.
Throughout his career, Mayowa has collaborated on significant environmental and development projects. His work includes projects like the UNDP’s Youth Climate Innovation Hub, supported by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Climate Solution Leadership Training funded by the US Youth Alumni Engagement Programme. He has also produced the Close the Loop documentary for the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, shedding light on sustainability within the recycling industry.
His expertise extends to larger-scale initiatives, including a documentary for the African Development Bank (AfDB), further establishing him as a prominent voice in environmental storytelling and advocacy.
Through Climagraphy, Mayowa continues to inspire action on climate change, using his lens to capture stories that might otherwise remain untold. His dedication not only raises awareness but also advocates for policy shifts toward a more sustainable future for Africa.
By Dare Akogun
