After watching photographs by Tuoyo Omagba, one would be left to wonder why many indigenes of Niger Delta are left to wallow in hardship in the midst of plenty.   

Omagba’s photograph of Gas flaring (2011) proved that pollution in Niger Delta has continued to constitute environmental hazards in that area and nothing is being done about it.

He said that: “I took the photograph from the waterway to Escravos in Warri, Delta State. The flame coming out from the Escravos pollutes the environment. Ironically, the communities around it are helpless and tend to use the flame as a light when it gets dark. You can identify your location when you see the flame at night if you are still in the water.

School Time (2012), which is a picture of school children paddling canoe on their way to school, showed that the children are conversant with their environment. They were all paddling the canoe with confidence because it has become part of their way of life so they are not afraid of the being drawn since they have mastered the art of paddling a canoe.

 Omagba explains: “They are more like rich people because in that community, it is a privilege for them to own a canoe they can paddle to school. It is just like owning a car. Most times, their parents paddle other children to school but these ones are from a home that can afford an extra canoe.”

Family Voyage (2012) is a picture of a family that live their lives on water while Omoko Dancers (2012) is a colourful dance troupe from Itsekiri in Delta State. He said it is an elite dance usually done during burial ceremony of a prominent personality or when a chief is doing something.

 From childhood, he never had the opportunity of using a camera so he learnt photography from someone.  In 2005, he got into The Guardian newspaper as a freelancer for 19 months but later decided to stay on his own to pursue his passion.

Born in Sapele, he hails from Ugborodo in Warri South, Delta State. He graduated from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State where he studied Geography and Regional Planning. After graduation, getting a job became a problem for him so someone advised him to be self employed so he took to photography.

He resides in Asaba, Delta State, where he sometimes, covers events including weddings and birthdays but focuses more on artistic documentation, photography of everyday life and commercial photography.  

He was among the finalists in “Life in My City” competition and exhibition in Enugu in 2009.

He participated in Participatory Art Press Agencies (P.A.P.A) Workshop and Exhibition in 2009. He also exhibited at the Presidential Inaugration Exhibition, Abuja in 2011 and project on Delta State Through the Eyes of its Children in 2010.