The quest is always to have evidence of where you have been or how lovely the place you are going to visit is. It is the evidence to show that you have been there or you should be there. No photography, no tourism.   The soul of tourism business. Photography is it!”

Olori Subuola Oyediran, wife of Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, the Onpetu of Ijeru, who is the Chief Executive officer, Korporate Snaps, made this known in an interview with TTM in her office located  beside Dikat building Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The ace broadcaster who still maintains programmes which deals with family issues, and affairs in some radio stations, said that to keep tourism in the hearts of the people the photography sector must be enhanced and developed, as there is no tourism without photography.”

“The tourism sector will be naked without photography  whether the still or motion, you must showcase what you have to sell to people. You must show where you have been to people. You must document the scenery for posterity to come. The sites must be made as real as possible.”

Olori Oyediran remarked: “I am surprised that the tourism authorities and associations in this country have not seen the photography sector as the soul of the tourism industry. It keeps the industry breathing and moving from one generation to the next and preserve it forms for enhancement and development. There should be serious partnership between the sector practitioners and the tourism authourities.”

She also stressed the need for photographers in the country to form themselves into a strong and purposeful professional union strong enough to have a charter.

“This will go a long way at calling attention to those things that mitigating against the sector.

“We must have strong  a union which will   be able to pave the way for us , fight for and   protect our interest when and where it matters most.”

She lamented the high cost of photography materials and called on the Federal Government to reduce the tariff on them. “We are being stressed by the tariff. It is a fact that there is a need to generate revenue through tariff and import duties, yes but it must not be too high, as this will also determine our fares and prices. And you know the earning capacity of a typical Nigerians who has not got enough to eat not to talk of taking photographs.”

She pointed out that “Photography is not a job for the boys who could not make it. It is a profession which has turned out brilliant and exceptional personalities who have shaken the worid by their expertise and handiwork.

“One can recollect distinguished photographers like late Jackie Philips, Smart Sumi Cole, Peter Obe,Cornelious Oyemade, Late Olu Ajisegbede and so many other ded and living dazzling photographers.

She called for the sanitisation of the sector “The sector is being rapidly taken over by charlatans who just pick the camera and going about posing as professionals. These elements do whatever they like and undercut business taint the image of the profession.

These are not the ordinary men and women who pick an interest in photography but these people call themselves professionals without undergoing any training , some don’t have addresses. They discourage many from engaging the real professional throughtheir bad job.”

Olori Oyediran called on Nigerian to engage professional photographers whenever there is an event “There is nothing better than Nigerians going into the studio or engaging professional photographers whener there is an evet or occasion that warrant taken a picture. It is always better as they are not gping to mss your event up because of their names and credibility but also will want to clear the road for other engagement in the future.”