Abia State-born Morgan Otagburuagu has been nominated as the only Nigerian finalist in the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards, joining photographers from countries including Brazil, China, Bangladesh, the UK, Mexico, France, Belgium, DRC, Colombia, Ireland, Ecuador, Italy, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, India, and Argentina.

The awards, held annually since 2007, offer a $25,000 prize and a solo exhibition at next year’s show.

Otagburuagu emerged from a competitive pool of 430,000 applicants worldwide, ultimately making the final 31 photographers from 20 countries. Finalists were selected across various genres, including Architecture and Design, Creative, Documentary Projects, Environment, Landscape, Perspectives, Portraiture, Sports, Still Life, Wildlife, and Nature. Otagburuagu’s submission falls under the Sports category.

Commenting on his nomination, Otagburuagu said:

“My work is titled Beneath the Bridge. It depicts the discipline and dreams of amateur boxers training in a makeshift gym under an underpass in Lagos, captured in black-and-white. I’m proud to represent Nigeria on a global stage. Being a finalist is already a win. I started photography in 2017 with limited resources, so nearly a decade later, reaching this level as a Nigerian is truly fulfilling.”

The 2026 World Photography Awards celebrate exceptional talent across multiple photography disciplines and provide a platform for emerging and established photographers to showcase their work to an international audience.