The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kings Flash Photography, Mosunmola Olalere, has declared that choosing photography as a career is not a mistake, but a purposeful journey marked by determination and divine guidance.
Speaking during the unveiling of the Kings Flash Photography studio in Abuja over the weekend, Olalere shared his personal story of resilience and triumph, while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the event.
“Choosing photography is no mistake,” he said.
“You being a lawyer or a doctor doesn’t make you better than me. This is my career, that is yours. God can take you anywhere when you believe in what you are doing.”
Olalere, who previously served as the personal photographer to former Liberian President George Weah, encouraged aspiring photographers to maintain focus despite challenges and societal perceptions.
He recalled the difficult early days when he was forced to shut down his first studio in Suleja, Niger State, due to inability to pay rent. “A year later, I reopened, and that studio is still standing today,” he said.
Defying critics who doubted his ability to succeed in Abuja, Olalere proudly declared: “People said I can’t live in Abuja. Today, I live in my own seven-bedroom house.”
With a presence in both Nigeria and Liberia, Olalere has gone beyond photography to empower others, offering free training in Liberia.
“People said they would take over. I said no. People stood before us, and people will stand after us,” he noted.
He is also writing a book titled Determined Mind, a project he has worked on for seven years.
He believes photography saved him during his university days, and he urges youths not to wait for government jobs or family support.
“I don’t depend on anyone. I don’t even have games or movies on my phone. I just focus,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the company’s Director of Operations, Mosunmola Bolajoko Olalere, who holds a master’s degree in organic chemistry, said joining her husband’s business in 2018 changed her life.
“When you marry a businessman, you must start thinking like one,” she said.
“He begged me to help with the business, and since then, God has been faithful and expanded us.”