Nigerian freelance photojournalist, documentary photographer and visual storyteller Fatima Yusuf has been selected as one of the Top Travel Influencers of the Year by the Travellers Awards, earning recognition among the Top 100 Travel and Tourism Icons in Nigeria.
Based in Abuja, Yusuf uses photography to document the diverse experiences that define Nigeria, with a particular focus on people, places, culture, wildlife, conservation and communities. Her work seeks to preserve stories that may otherwise remain unseen while encouraging greater appreciation of Nigeria’s tourism and cultural assets. A significant part of her work centres on wildlife and conservation. She has documented animals, landscapes, conservationists, rangers and communities connected to protected areas, including Yankari Game Reserve, Sumu Wildlife Park, Jos Wildlife Park, Gashaka-Gumti National Park, National Park Service Headquarters in Abuja and Marhai National Park.
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Through her documentary photography, Yusuf also captures Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, including festivals, traditional events, communities and everyday experiences. Her approach focuses on authentic moments, emotions and relationships that give destinations and communities their distinctive character. “For me, photography is more than creating beautiful images. It is a way of documenting moments, asking questions, preserving history, and encouraging people to pay closer attention to the world around them,” Yusuf said. She describes her photographic approach as being rooted in observation, patience and respect, with the goal of creating images that are visually compelling while remaining grounded in real experiences.
Since 1996, the Travellers Awards have recognised individuals, organisations and businesses that have demonstrated excellence and made significant contributions to the development of aviation, travel and tourism in Nigeria and across Africa. The awards are organised by Travellers Magazine, first published in 1993 as the first travel magazine published in West Africa, and ATQNews.com, established in 2014 as a leading African travel news platform.
The Travellers Awards 2025/2026 will take place on September 13, 2026, during the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market, scheduled for September 13th–15th at the Eko Hotels Convention Centre, Lagos. Yusuf’s recognition highlights the growing role of visual storytelling and digital influence in destination promotion, conservation awareness and the documentation of Nigeria’s tourism and cultural heritage.
