Meet Your Ninthgrid Streets of 2025 Winners
And now, with over 300 images submitted from different photographers across the country, we are excited to officially announce the winners of Streets of 2025.
At Ninthgrid, we believe in the power of visuals to tell real stories, stories rooted in place, culture, and lived experience. That belief came to life through Streets of 2025, our nationwide photography initiative inviting creators to document the monuments, places, and everyday scenes that defined 2025 in their cities. We launched the campaign in November of 2025 and over the course of the campaign, photographers across Nigeria submitted visual stories capturing change, movement, resilience, and memory.
From familiar landmarks to overlooked corners of our cities, the entries reflected how our environments continue to evolve and how photography can preserve these moments in time.
And now, with over 300 images submitted from different photographers across the country, we are excited to officially announce the winners of Streets of 2025.
Our First Place Winner
In first place, we have Freedom Akhimienmhonan who is a 25-year-old photographer rooted in Edo State, dedicating his lens to capturing culture, light, and genuine emotion. His work spans portraits, events, and landscapes, with a focus on storytelling through colour and texture. He collaborates with clients to illuminate their moments with clarity, patience, and artistic sensitivity.
Off the clock, he seeks new locales to photograph and refine his craft.
Our Second Place Winner
Aishat Oladipo is also known as Icon and she is a Nigerian photographer and video editor who is passionate about documenting the beauty, culture, and energy of everyday life. She uses her lens to tell African stories through iconic visuals and inspire a deeper appreciation for the world around us.
She is driven to make a remarkable impact in Africa and beyond through creative storytelling.
Our Third Place Winner
Muritala Abdul-Azeez is a visual artist based in Lagos specializing in street, documentary and event photography and Videography.
He uses his lens to capture and celebrate the vibrant, complex, and often untold narratives of urban life, particularly within my local community.
His work delivers powerful essays that chronicle the spirit, resilience, and daily stories found on the streets of Lagos. He is dedicated to sharing authentic visual experiences and inspiring connections.
The winners were officially announced and awarded at our Ninthgrid End-of-Year Showcase held on 12th of December 2025, an intimate gallery-style event celebrating African creators, visuals, and community.
At the event our top 3 winners received ₦500,000 in cash prizes and the top two winning works were displayed alongside other featured creators.
The showcase marked not just the end of the campaign, but a celebration of what’s possible when creatives are given the space to tell authentic stories.
Streets of 2025 reaffirmed our commitment to supporting African photographers, preserving visual history, and building platforms where stories matter.
To every creator who participated, thank you for trusting Ninthgrid with your work. To our winners, congratulations once again. And to our community, 2026 holds much more in store.
You can head on to www.ninthgrid.com/streetsof2025 to view the campaign and all the submissions.
See you in 2026.
Happy Holidays from the Ninthgrid Team.