Professional headshots? Okay, my Abuja people, let’s talk! If your LinkedIn photo is still that cropped picture from your cousin’s wedding at Transcorp Hilton, or worse, that “I snapped this in front of the National Mosque with Harmattan dust blurring my face” look, you need to fix up fast! In this city where everyone seems to be a CEO, a consultant, or a “serial entrepreneur,” your headshot isn’t just a photo, it’s your digital handshake. Whether you’re a big shot in Asokoro, a hustler in Kubwa, or a fresh grad interning in Garki, here’s why a proper headshot is non-negotiable
Why you need a professional headshot as career person or professional living or working in Abuja
1. First Impressions? Abuja No Dey Hear Word!
Picture this: a director at Wuse’s World Bank office is scrolling LinkedIn during their 1PM break. Your profile pops up. If your photo looks like you took it in Nyanya traffic with Keke horns blaring and one almajiri shouting “pure water!” in the background, they’ll swipe faster than you say “tor.” But a clean, professional shot with that your sweet senator and some Millennium Park greenery behind you? Suddenly, they pause. “Ah, this one na senior man!” Trust me, in Abuja’s competitive scene, your first impression must scream “I’m serious, but I fit chop suya after work.”
Quick Tip: No need to wear agbada if you’re pitching apps in the CBD, just dress like the role you want. (But if you’re a traditional consultant? Carry your agbada swag, jare!).
2. Your Brand is Your Abuja Rep—Protect Am!
In Abuja, your name opens doors…or slams them shut. Your headshot is part of your brand. If you’re a lawyer in Asokoro, you better look like you can argue a case at the Supreme Court by 9 a.m. and still make owanbe in Gwarimpa by 6pm. If you’re a creative in Jabi, let your photo shout “I’m the Davido of UI/UX design!” Use the same photo everywhere; LinkedIn, your NGO’s website, even your “We deliver zobo to your office” flyer. Make sure Aunty Ene in Wuse II sees your face and thinks, “Ah, this pikin don blow!”
3. Trust No Dey Come by “Insha’Allah” Alone
You want that UN job? That contract with NNPC? That investor to fund your “farm-to-table fura startup” in Lugbe? Then your photo can’t look like you used your phone torchlight during a AEDC blackout in Karu. A pro headshot says, “I take my hustle seriously, no be shakara.” Even if your Twitter bio says “Serial Entrepreneur,” pair it with a photo where your face isn’t half-covered by the shadow of the Aso Rock. Pro tip: Smile with your eyes—warm but “I know my worth.”
Fact: LinkedIn says profiles with pro photos get 21x more views. Tor!
4. Stand Out in the “Federal Character” Crowd
You think competition is tough? In Abuja, 500 people apply for one entry-level job…and 499 of them are “connected.” If your headshot looks like your passport photo (the one where you’re squinting at NIS office in Area 1), you’ve already lost. A killer headshot makes you unforgettable. Imagine: Would a hiring manager pick “Mr. Sharp Suit with Aso Rock in the Background” or “Aunty Blessing with Her Glamour Girls Studio Filter?” Case closed.
5. One Photo, 100 Abuja Uses (Even for Your Side Hustle)
A great headshot is like your aso-ebi gele, you’ll reuse it for everything. Need a speaker bio for that conference at NAF Conference Centre? Check. Applying for a visa to pitch your idea in Dubai? Sorted. Updating your NGO’s “Meet the Team” page? No wahala. Plus, when you finally launch your “Abuja’s Top 40 Under 40” campaign, you’ll already have the perfect shot. Just update it every 2 years, no one needs to see your 2018 “I just finished NYSC” fade. 😒
So my Abuja peeps, a pro headshot isn’t “extra” and you’re not doing too much. It’s strategy. You wouldn’t wear polo and jeans to a meeting at the Ministry of Finance, so why let your LinkedIn look like “anything goes?” Oya go iron your best kaftan or blazer, book me (Shameless plug, I know) and let your photo say, “I’m here to network at Ceddi Plaza and collect cheques, not likes.”
Abeg, stop using that blurry photo from Eagle Square’s last trade fair. Your next job, contract, or big break is one headshot away!
P.S. If your current headshot is you sweating at the top of Zuma Rock, oya, let it rest. Your future self (and your inbox) will thank you. 😉