pryd:


OMG! Tochi, you were at Raymond Njoku yesterday.

Small world bro... Choi you for don hala me na

"My nickname is Rainbow, I got it during my football playing days because of my numerous skills and tricks in the pitch.
My most memorable moment ever was in 1987, in a football match for my school Hope Waddell Training Institute. In the dying minutes, I was one on one with the keeper and I chipped the ball over him, used my pace and ran over him to score the winning goal and the whole school started screaming Rainbow! Rainbow! It's one memory I don't think I'll ever forget and I smile each time I remember it."

"I get mixed feelings whenever I'm watching a football match, I feel like this is the life I should have had. I was a very good footballer in my days and I know I'm better than most of the guys playing on TV now.
My only regret is giving up football. I was the most talented and skillful player in my set then but I didn't have any support from anywhere, my family didn't support either and to continue playing football was to rebel against my father and I did not want that.
Looking back, I feel like I should have continue even if it meant going alone."

Thanks to the amazing people that have donated for Favour's surgery, we have raised $873 out of the $3000 and still have a long way to go.
To donate, visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/corrective-heart-surgery-for-favour-usadoh#/story. Please tag and mention friends you think might be able to help. Thanks.

This campaign is to raise the remaining N500,000 needed for Favour Usadoh's heart surgery. We already have N1,500,000 which was the remaining money raised for late Vivian's surgery before she passed away.
The surgery will be carried out this month at Babcock University teaching hospital. Please share and tag your friends. Thanks.

"Before I moved to Nigeria, everyone I told tried to discourage me, they kept reminding me about the kidnappings and security issues. I was moving with my family and that added to my fear but we still decided to go ahead with it.
I was first posted to port harcourt and because of security concerns I had to always move around with a police guard. I've since stopped moving with a police escort.
I stay in Lagos now and I can walk to the market alone without the fear of anyone attacking me, I feel at home here, Nigerians are nice and friendly and it's definitely safer and more peaceful than they paint it out there.
I enjoy coming out in the evening to chat with the boys. The only thing I miss about home is my Son, he found it hard adapting here and had to return to India."

TochiPhotos:
I opened this place yesterday, I didn't see any customer, I had to throw my food away. Today no customers yet except you. I know I just Opened and business won't boom immediately but I expected to make little sales, I'm not happy but I know things will turn around, all these successful businesses didn't make it big in a day or two so I still have hope " #HumansOfLagos

I got quite emotional at this...A man must keep his hopes firm. @ Tochi, may God bless you real big...please keep up the good work.

"In 2008 I volunteered at the Motherless babies home, Lekki. It was actually my mum that made me volunteer, she wanted to teach me privilege. I wasn't really good with children but I fell in love with kids along the line.
These Children don't want someone to pity them, they are not just 'little orphans' but funny and intelligent people who want to be loved and treated like everyone else.
A year after I volunteered, we wanted to throw a Christmas party for the kids, it was well publicized and on that day, people turned up and brought everything we asked for, the rice we got could last us over a year but we ended up not having the party. People dropped off those things, turned their cars and left. No body came around to help with the cooking and we did not have enough hands to cook so we just sat and stared at the uncooked foodstuffs."
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Olutunu is the amazing Child Experience Coordinator at Lagos State Motherless Babies Home a.k.a. Lions Village. HOL was invited to take a photo walk through the home and would be sharing stories from some of the kids and staff. Lions village is a home created to provide care and protection for abandoned abused, orphaned, and homeless children recovered around Lagos State. The home needs sponsors, volunteers, tutors, mentors and collaborators in any other way it's located on 1 Kenneth Agbakuru Street, Lekki phase 1.

"Last term, I was the best student in every subject in my class, during the awards presentation everyone brought their parents and they celebrated them but mine weren't there. I felt really sad that my dad wasn't there with me but I'm getting used to his absence now.
I picked an interest in programming 3 years ago, just recently finished from a summer coding camp. I love how programming allows me to bring my imaginations to life. I'm also fascinated by robots and artificial intelligence and hope to build a robot that can be as intelligent as humans. One can also hang out and talk to the robots whenever they need someone to talk to."
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16 year old Dipo is one of the 104 kids in Motherless Babies Home, Lekki aka lions village. HOL was invited to take a photo walk through the home and would be sharing stories from some of the kids and staff. Lions Village is a home created to provide care and protection for abandoned abused, orphaned, and homeless children recovered around Lagos State. School is about to resume and the home needs sponsors, volunteers, mentors, tutors and collaborators in other ways. To volunteer or sponsor a kid send an email to lagoslionvillage@gmail.com and motherlessbabieshomelekki@yahoo.com or walk into the home at no 1 Kenneth Agbakuru Street, lekki phase one. To support financially pay to First Bank account (2001598490) under the name Motherless Babies Home, Lekki. Thanks.

Hello TochiPhotos,i would like to go with you on one of your project days but that might be probably around November because am still on session.

Dahprech:
Hello TochiPhotos,i would like to go with you on one of your project days but that might be probably around November because am still on session.

Cool... Send me an email when you are ready... Looking forward to having you.

"The reason I don't talk much is because I'm always thinking about my future. I want to be rich so I can be able to help people, I also think about my parents at times but I mostly think about how to become great and useful to the world."
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Peter is 13 and one of the 104 kids at Motherless babies home, Lekki.

"I love drawing and sculpting, I started when I was 4 years old, my Mum was an artist too and I learnt by copying and recreating what she did. I just finished showing some of my work at an exhibition in Onikan, people liked it and it made me really happy.
I'm braiding my little Sister's hair, she makes me happy and I Iove that we can talk to each other about anything."
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Gloria 14 and Grace 10 are Sisters and are among the 104 kids at Motherless babies home, Lekki.

Me too,thanks.

TochiPhotos:

Cool... Send me an email when you are ready... Looking forward to having you.

"I've been with the home since 1997, I have always loved kids and it makes me happy that I'm able to help make a difference in their life.
That girl that was standing beside us before? Her name is Esther, she was brought in when she was an infant. I remember crying the first time I carried her in my arms, she has grown up now and is slowly turning into a beautiful young woman and I'm filled with great joy each time I see her or any of the lovely kids in the home."
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For the past few days, we've shared stories of some of the lovely kids and staff from Motherless babies home, Lekki. Wish it were possible to share the stories of all 104 kids at the home, they are the happiest set of people I've met in a really long time. Had a really exciting time with them, shooting together and having the opportunity to listen to some of them talk so passionately about their plans for the future.
Thanks to all the amazing staff at the home and everyone involved in giving these kids a better life.
The home still needs more sponsors, volunteers, mentors, tutors and collaborators in other ways. To volunteer or sponsor a kid send an email to lagoslionvillage@gmail.com and motherlessbabieshomelekki@yahoo.com or walk into the home at no 1 Kenneth Agbakuru Street, lekki phase one. To support financially pay to the home's First Bank account (2001598490) under the name Motherless Babies Home, Lekki. Thanks.

"I used to fight a lot as a kid, and as I grew older, I decided to channel all that energy into boxing. My mum doesn't like boxing at all, the last time I tried to show her a video of my fight, she screamed and asked if we were trying to kill each other.
Each time she prays, she prays that I find a job so I will stop boxing. I just finished my fight from the Army boxing tryout, I did so well that I had to fight in 5 different weight levels, I passed and I'm joining the army as a boxer. Can't wait to get home and tell my mum I've gotten my dream job."

"I started playing basketball few years ago, I hope to go pro in future. My dad doesn't really support my playing Bball, but he is okay with it, as long as it doesn't affect my grades. I no longer play as I used to because of my internship, and after work today I decided to come to the court and watch, but after watching the guys play for some minutes, I couldn't stand it and joined in the action dressed like this."

You're doing so well, Tochiphotos
Perhaps we could meet someday.

this really made my day.
keep the good work going.

UjSizzle:
You're doing so well, Tochiphotos
Perhaps we could meet someday.

Thanks Uju and I'm sure we'll have an exciting time shooting together, we should totally make that happen.

ibrodex:
this really made my day.
keep the good work going.

Thanks bro.

"I got married very early, I almost got confused with the thought that I still needed to live life, party, become super rich and all that before getting married.
One of my best moment as a father, was when my son passed his Waec, he is in Uni now and the others will soon join him.
I was lucky to marry a loving and caring woman, who helped me piece my life together. Even with all her awesomeness, it wasn't still easy, the early days were really tough but been understanding, tolerant and knowing that any problem we faced were temporary, kept us together."

"I was robbed for the first time in my life this year, they kept hitting me with the gun, aiming at me and threatened to kill me. Honestly, I thought that day was the end.
As I waited to hear the click of the gun, so many things were running through my mind, my relationship that ended, I was sad I did not make out enough time for her, I did not get to know her well because I was chasing other things. Then, I also thought about the afterlife, the futility of everything and how vain life is. After the incident, I decided to become a happier person."

"My Gpa was perfect last semester, it's the kind of news my father would have loved to hear, he doesn't joke with education but unfortunately, he passed away last year. His death was really painful and I'm not even sure I've gotten over it yet but I found solace in God, He is always there for His Children.
I spend time on Sunday teaching kids in Sunday school and it gives me joy to impact positively on others."

"I learnt how to cut hair from one of the best, his name is classic, he is Ghanaian.
I'm a manual barber, I use razor and comb, I can cut every hair style with razor just mention it; layers, punk, skin brush etc 'that skin brush I mentioned go be like say you do sporting waves'. I'm an international barber, people come to me from everywhere, there are people that I've been barbing from childhood and now that they have children, I also barb their kids. I was also the one barbing former army chief, Ogbemudia. He has his own clipper but the second time I cut his hair, I used razor and he never went back to clipper again, he even wanted to take me to Abuja when he was leaving Lagos.
My other businesses has failed so many times in the past but barbing never fails me, there was even a day after my business failed, I prayed and asked God to show me what I will do and I dreamt I was a barber, so barbing is a call from God, barbing makes me happy.
I work as a security man for the people that plant flowers here, that's why I decided to set up my mini shop here and I also enjoy the breeze."

"I used to be a tomboy when I was younger. I'd cut my hair and wear boys clothing. The truth, is that I wanted to dress like every other girl, plait my hair and all that but I was fat, felt ugly and was afraid that I would not look as beautiful as others. At a point, I just decided I was tired of that and I was going to start been more comfortable in my body.
I lost a friend in Uni, her death made me realize life is too short to spend most of it worrying about irrelevant things and it made me decide to become a happier, positive person.
I'm so grateful I no longer care about what people might think about my appearance, I can be myself now and it's more peaceful that way. I've also become very confident and my focus now is improving myself and becoming a better writer."

"I'm an animator and a graphic designer, some people act all surprised when I tell them that's what I do, maybe they think it's something only boys are supposed to be good at.
I'm currently doing my internship, I'm also working on a comic, the lead character is going to be like me in so many ways, I'm a very happy and cheerful person, I'm the kind of person that always tries to make my friends laugh and smile even when they are sad. I don't have a name for the lead character yet, but it has to have happiness or something like that in its name, I want it to be something that will make people laugh, I want to spread happiness through my comics."

"I started reading comic books when I was 6, it was my dad who introduced me to them. Comics and cartoons were a big part of my growing up, they thought me so many things and I loved how I'd pick up a comic, and disappear into a whole new world, it feels like you are in there with them, you feel real emotions and a connection with them, it's not just characters to you, you rejoice when they triumph and their pain saddens you. The last time I cried, was 2 weeks ago. I was watching teenage mutant ninja turtles with my son, one of the turtles was badly beaten and I felt tears drop down, and my wife was like 'see this old man o!'"

"Getting this job was a miracle, I had only my O'level result and everyone that came for the interview was at least a graduate. I did not even think I had a chance, so you can imagine my excitement when I got the news. I still can't explain how it happened, but it was the kind of miracle and good news I needed in my life.
I had lost my dad earlier, lost interest in everything, lost my admission, lost focus, nothing made me happy again. Getting the job brought happiness back in my life, I'm trying to move forward and not dwell on the past, My goal now is my mum, I don't want her to suffer again and I'm working hard to see that she doesn't."

"I was turned down in the first few modeling casts I went to, they would tell me I needed to look some type of way. It could be abs they needed, or someone more muscular and it pained me and I wished I could change my self and have all the features they would ever want.
The rejections were really frustrating and would leave me questioning myself and if my decision to become a model was the right one. Then one day I went for one audition and I was instantly picked, they said they've been looking for someone like me for a long time, that I was the perfect guy for what they wanted. It made me realize there is space for everyone and nothing can stop you from getting what's yours."

"I was once a successful business man, but I lost everything when my shop was brought down by the Govt. Since then, I've found it very difficult to bounce back. Do you believe I now do conductor and wash plates in a restaurant to survive?
There is one person I will never forget in my life, his name is Austin, he is my friend. Austin never left me when everybody did, he has been the one helping me since I lost my business, he helps me so much that at times, I feel ashamed, but he told me not to worry, that he knows I will bounce back soon.
A Lady I met in the restaurant told me I would make a good model so I joined a modeling agency. I've been on the runway a few times and it really made me happy. When I'm not washing plates or doing conductor, I'm doing my modeling thing.
I want to be successful again, even if it's not for myself but for Austin. He has shown so much faith and belief in me and I want to be able to pay him back one day."

"I make sure to make out time and take the kids out and play, at least once or twice in a month. We go to the stadium, they ride bicycles, skate and have fun. Since we started coming, I found out the kids have become more open and can now talk to me about anything, things that we did not normally have time to talk about at home.
It's hard balancing work-life and family but I try to be in their life as much as possible. I know a time would come, when all they'd want is to be left alone and you'd wish you had spent more time with them.