Pius Utomi Ekpei, a renowned photojournalist and writer was born on May 5, 1962 at Ebu Town, Delta State in Nigeria. Early in life, his interest in drawing and oil painting indicated a strong direction of his future endeavour. His march to professional and academic excellence in photojournalism began with his training at the Kenn Professional Studio, Apapa in 1976. He attended Apapa Baptist School, Apapa and Nigerian Model High School in Lagos, for his General Certificate of Education, Ordinary and Advanced Levels.
He attended the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Lagos and obtained a diploma in journalism. He also studied photojournalism at the University of Missouri, School of Journalism, Columbia, Missouri, USA in 1989 and the University of Lagos, where he obtained his B.A. Hons. degree in English (1997-02), Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs (2005-2007) and, M.A. degree in English Literature (2008-2009).
He has vast experience in teaching and practice of photojournalism. He has worked for newspapers, magazine establishments at home and abroad for local and international press in various capacity as photojournalist, Head of photography, photo editor, Editor, photography, member, editorial board, publicist, consultant, among others. He began his career as a photojournalist with Daily Times in 1982, and joined the Guardian newspapers in 1986, where his potential and photojournalistic skills manifested with his catchy and timeless pictures. His brilliant career culminated in his being awarded the Willie Vicoy Reuter Fellowship in 1989, a feat that catapulted him to limelight as the first African recipient of the international award in photojournalism and the third at its inception in 1987.
His job experience, include a stint with the Columbia Missourian, USA in 1989, Reuters (1989-1990), The Sunday Magazine (1990-1992) and, The Independent Weekly (1992-1996). He was appointed publicity secretary on the board of the Nigeria Yachting Federation (1997-1998). He also doubled as editor, Boating and leisure, an official newsletter of the federation. Following his exit from the federation, he returned to the mainstream media as photojournalist/coordinator, Agence France France Presse (AFP) responsible for Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin (1998 -2023). He was formerly an adjunct lecturer in photojournalism in the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, and presently an executive director, Rangefinder Nigeria Limited, a well-known multimedia establishment.
He has served as external examiner in schools of journalism, guest speaker as well as resource person in workshops and seminars. These include an advanced workshop organised by management of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, Daily Trust Newspapers in 2015; “Going into Photography”, 1st Annual Fotoface Seminar/Photo exhibition, French Cultural Centre (2004); “The Influence of Social Media in Today’s Youth”, a paper presented to mark Children’s Day celebration at Christower International Schools, Ogun State (2014), Media Relations Training of Trainers by Enable/DFID (2010), a seminar for Postgraduate Diploma class, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (2002), “The Photojournalist and the Nigerian Child” by UNICEF, Lagos (2002), and quarterly photo workshop by Kodak international across Nigeria (1999/2000).
A veteran artist and journalist for over three decades, he has travelled widely either as a photojournalist or an artist-photographer showcasing his artistic and creative works in local and international exhibitions. As a photojournalist, he has covered wide range of events, including insurgency in northeast Nigeria, militancy in Niger Delta, unrest in southeast and other parts of the country, the Liberia War in 2003, Commonwealth Summit (CHOGM) in 2003, presidential elections in Nigeria, Togo Ghana, Benin and several sportIng events. These include 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, All African Games in Abuja (2003), African Senior Athletics Championships (2018), African Cup of Nations hosted in Nigeria and Ghana (2000), Gabon and Equatorial Guinea (2012), Cameroon (2021), among others. His documented work which cut across the traditional, contemporary Nigerian arts and culture, the glitz and glamour of fashion, leisure and tourism, the entertainment industry, captivating landscape and festivals in African continent, especially the historic Sokoto Caliphate bicentenary portrayed his mastery of the craft.
Following his maiden one-man exhibition “Just As We Are” in 1989, he has had several solo and group exhibitions. This includes 41st University of Missouri photo workshop/exhibition, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, USA (1989), North-South-Gap in the view of Artists, a Circus Theatre Federlos tour of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Switzerland (1994), 4th Havana Biennial, Cuba (1991), “Land and Water”, a joint exhibition with Italian Ezio Quiresi at the Istituto di Cultura (1993), Contemporary Nigeria Art exhibition, WIPO headquarters in Geneva (1995), 1st National Creativity Exhibition, Lagos (1995), coordination of UNICEF exhibition to mark the African Summit on Roll Back Malaria, Abuja (2000). He was for couple of years photo consultant to National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria.
An author, Pius has collaborated with many authors on various publications. Apart from his works that had featured prominently in several local and international newspapers, magazines, periodicals, journals and movies, he has been listed in Warren M. Robbins Library of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art Library, Washington, D.C. among reputable compendiums in art and journalism. Others, including African Contemporary Art (1994 and 1996 editions), Media World Year Book. He is a recipient of several awards, including “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Ecobank in recognition of his outstanding contribution and many years of dedication and commitment to the photo industry to mark World Photography Day (2022), the Willie Vicoy Reuter Fellowship (1989), Highly Commended, Commonwealth Photographic Award (2007), Runners-up (African Zone) Fifty Crows Fund for Documentary Photography, San-Francisco (2003), prizes at the National Photo Festival (1989). He is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and enjoys listening to good music.
