WikiPortraits volunteer spotlight: Obinna Friday Matthew
Co-founder of Wiki Photo Africa, an initiative that recruits and mentors professional photographers across Africa to contribute freely licensed images to Commons, WikiPortraits volunteer Obinna Friday Mathew also runs a photography studio and training academy in Lagos, Nigeria.
Obinna Friday Matthew (User:MediaMOF) is a professional photographer based in Lagos, Nigeria, who has contributed to Wikimedia Commons since 2020. He is the co-founder of Wiki Photo Africa, an initiative that recruits and mentors professional photographers across Africa to contribute freely licensed images to Commons. He also runs a photography studio and training academy in Lagos.
Q1) How did you become involved with Wikipedia and WikiPortraits?
Obinna Friday Matthew: I got involved with the Wikimedia movement in 2020 through a Wikimedia Commons workshop organized by Ayokanmi (User:Kaizenify), who introduced me to the movement. I'm a member of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN) and co-founder of Wiki Photo Africa. As a photographer, I quickly realized my skills could help document notable people, places, and events on Commons. That journey eventually led me to WikiPortraits in 2025, where I found another way to contribute freely licensed, high-quality images that make knowledge more accessible.
How did you get started with photography?
My photography journey began in 2014 while I was in secondary school in Edo State, Nigeria. I became fascinated after seeing one of my teachers taking photographs with his camera. I asked if I could try it, and he kindly let me. That sparked my interest, and I began teaching myself the basics. Two years later, I started learning from professional photographers, which marked the beginning of my career. These days I shoot with a Nikon D600.
What are some recent events you've covered? What was it like? Were there any challenges?
One of the most memorable events I recently covered was a leadership and survival challenge for students from Port Harcourt, held at LUFASI Nature Park in Lagos. The students took on a demanding trek through the forest designed to build resilience, teamwork, and survival skills, and as the event photographer I captured their struggles, emotions, and triumphs along the way.
It was exciting but physically demanding. I hiked long distances through thick forest trails while keeping my camera equipment safe and functional. Balancing the trek itself with the responsibility of capturing meaningful moments was a challenge, but rewarding. We all made it through safely, and it remains one of my favorite assignments to date.
What have been your other WikiPortraits (or photography) highlights?
One of my proudest highlights was officially documenting the renowned Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State — one of Nigeria's most celebrated cultural festivals.
Another milestone was securing a partnership to document the Lagos Igbo Hangout in Festac, Lagos, which brought together roughly 10,000 Igbo people living in Lagos to celebrate their culture, heritage, and traditions. Being trusted to preserve these cultural moments through photography has been deeply fulfilling.
Where can people see your photographs?
You can explore my photography on Wikimedia Commons through my uploads as MediaMOF, and follow my work on Instagram at @WikiPhotoAfrica. Our previous Instagram account was suspended, so we've started a new page and are gradually rebuilding our portfolio there.
