Pelumi Nubi recounts experience in the dersert, borders, ALAO ABIODUN reports.
In 1966, 27-year-old Newton Jibunor, an environmentalist, completed a solo drive from the UK to Nigeria through the Sahara Desert. 58 years later, history has repeated itself in the form of 28-year-old Pelumi Nubi, who concluded a 68-day solo drive from London through 16 other countries, to Lagos.
In spite of the inclement weather, Pelumi embarked on the daring journey looking on the brighter side. Her driving took her through interesting landmarks across different countries.
Pelumi’s latest feat reminds all and sundry of the audacious 46-year-old cyclist Kunle Adeyanju also known as “The Lion Heart”, who completed London-to-Lagos trip with his motorbike in 2022. He embarked on this trans-continental journey to raise funds for Rotary International’s fight against polio.
The journey took him approximately, forty-one days; he travelled 13,000 kilometres (8,100 miles) through 11 countries and 31 cities before he arrived at his final destination Lagos, Nigeria.
Also, in 2022, another UK-based Nigerian, Babatunde Tomori, drove a Volkswagen passenger bus, the brand most often used for danfo, from London to Lagos. He set out in June 2022, and arrived in Nigeria on August 5, 2022.
Born in Lagos, Pelumi moved to Croydon, South London with her family at age 10. When faced with hostility from her school peers, she found solace in the library. At university she came across a global exchange programme that offered a heavily-discounted trip to India.
The experience helped and shaped her in using her free time as a student to travel to practically every country in Europe, using low-cost carriers. Her first project was co-founding The Black Explorer, a premium-feel print magazine aiming to amplify black travel
Pelumi graduated with a First Class honours degree in medical science and started a PhD in human genetics and cancer research before she quit.
She said: “A lot of people called me crazy – I know I’m trying to do the impossible, but it’s the right thing for me. Life is short – so why not step out of your comfort zone? It might encourage you to try lots of other impossible things, too. I’m a traveller at heart, and I was craving this big adventure.”
While studying for her PhD at Coventry University, Pelumi started seeing stories of people travelling to Lagos through unconventional modes of transport, like bikes.
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She wondered whether it would be possible to go the distance by car – particularly one which wasn’t designed to drive on all-terrain, like a 4×4.
The Journey
A life of adventure is what some people like Pelumi wear like a second skin. Pelumi knew from the onset that the ride would be the ultimate test of human endurance and anything could go wrong.
Pelumi’s journey, which began on January 30, 2024, was filled with challenges, including being denied entry to Sierra Leone at the border and dealing with an accident in the Ivory Coast. The delays necessitated a shift in her arrival from the initial date of March 23 to Sunday, April 7, 2024.
Pelumi began her journey in January from England, crossed into France, Spain and headed for Morocco then through the West Sahara Desert, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin before finally entering Lagos.
Pelumi said her journey: “Has shown that it is possible, anything and everything you want is possible, you can do it, so go after it with all you’ve got, with all your energy, with all your life”.
However, her resilience and determination enabled her to overcome these obstacles and finally arrive in Lagos on April 7, 2024, where she received a heroic welcome from the Lagos State Government.
She said: “I’ve been a traveller. I’ve travelled to so many places, explored so many cultures and each time I was travelling, it was mostly to like Europe, Asia but my own continent, I barely has any footprint there so I was like I wanna explore more of this place I was born into.
“I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in the UK, and each time I came home, I just flew for 6 hours … but then, there is this West African region I haven’t really met myself into, and I wanted to.
“So, I started Googling ‘overland travel’ and I just did not see people that looked like me, there was no explorers like just being showcased in the media and I was like this needs to be changed in terms of travel, why is that story not been told, why is the African nation in terms of tourism not been explored”.
Timeline
Pelumi began her journey on January 31, heading from London to Paris, France. On February 4, she crossed from Paris into Barcelona in Spain.
By February 10, Pelumi had made it Morocco in North Africa. Her journey was not without challenges. On February 18, she had to go for an eye treatment before traversing the Sahara Desert.
On February 20, she crossed the Sahara Desert into Mauritania. On March 2, she made it to Senegal.
On March 8, Pelumi’s journey had reached The Gambia and Guinea Bissau on the 13th. By this time, rough roads had begun to take their toll on her car.
By March 19, she was to enter Sierra Leone when she was temporarily halted by the authorities who refused her entry because her car was a right-hand drive. This delay would postpone her arrival date from March 23 to April 7.
On March 24, she was again refused entry, this time at the Liberian border. She finally gained entry on March 25 after the intervention of the Nigerian Embassy in Liberia. She would later on that day post on Instagram that she suffered an accident with her car in Liberia.
Recounting her challenges, Ms Nubi said: “The most difficult and longest border I stayed at was Liberia, which was two nights. For me, the Sahara Desert has one of the best roads I drove on, and Guinea has one of the worst roads.
“Some days I drove for 10 hours, some, one hour, while there are days I didn’t drive at all. So, understanding what my body needed, especially as a woman, we have our monthly time. It was important to know when I was exhausted.
“I had eye issues in Morroco, and I was in an accident in the Ivory Coast, but I just prioritised my health over anything else.”
UNILAG warm reception
The University of Lagos was agog for several hours when Pelumi arrived the campus, the terminal point of her journey.
After 68 days of driving, Pelumi arrived the main gate of the University of Lagos at exactly 2:25 p.m. where she was greeted with carnival-like performances courtesy of students of Creative Arts Department and University of Lagos International School (ISL) as well as cheers from the crowd of admirers and well wishers.
Pelumi proceeded in a slow drive to the Senate House Quadrangle of UNILAG where she parked her car which was nicknamed her travel buddy “Lumi the car”.
She was formally received by members of UNILAG Management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola. Prof. Ogunsola saluted her courage and indomitable spirit, adjudging it a further attestation to the “unbreakable spirit” Nigerians are made of.
She challenged students of the university to take cues from Pelumi by pursuing their ambitions with whatever they have at the moment and not wait for anything or anyone.
Prof. Ogunsola applauded Pelumi for triumphing over racism and all the dangers along the entire road stretch, describing her as “courageous”.
She said: “With this, you have joined the league of notable women like Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Queen Amina of Zaria among several others who have achieved milestones and shattered records”.
Other speakers at the ceremony included renowned Environmentalist and Businessman, Dr. Newton Jibunoh who broke the record as the first Nigerian to drive from London to Nigeria (56 years ago and at the age of 27 years); Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain; Nimi Akinkugbe.
Pelumi’s elated parents
Prof Timothy and Olubukola Nubi speaking in a joint interview said: “What looks to you people as content creation was a nightmare for us. It has been two months of fun to the whole world but not to us. We are believers in God. We kept on relying in the power of her name Oluwapelumi. (God is with me).”
Her parents said they expected the most challenging part to be when she was travelling across the Sahara Desert. “We thought that getting to the West African borders would be fun. But we found that that was where the challenges were. But we thank God that all has ended in praise.”
Sanwo-Olu’s gesture
When Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu received Pelumi, it came with a huge surprise and reward. Her respectable act of kneeling caught the attention of many.
The governor rewarded her with a house, car and named her Lagos Tourism Ambassador.
She was accompanied by her parents, Prof. Timothy and Olubukola; the Chief Executive Officer/Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folashade Ogunsola at the Lagos House, Marina.
While presenting the keys to the house and a branded LAGRIDE vehicle with customised number plate NUBI 9JA to the 28-year-old adventurer, assured the travel content creator that the state government would write off the entire bill for her solo drive from London to Lagos.
He charged Pelumi Nubi to use her platform to showcase the rich cultural values and aesthetics of Lagos to the world, which are part of her responsibilities as Lagos Tourism Ambassador.
Sanwo-Olu said President Bola Tinubu was aware that Pelumi is back in the country and willing to meet with her.
He said Lagos’ gesture to Pelumi is not really about the gifts and heroic welcome given to her, but to encourage more women to break barriers and compete favourably with their male counterparts in any sphere of life.
“Your experience and journey, which lasted over 68 days, are indeed very inspirational and you have actually shifted mountains. This is indeed a true African and Lagos spirit that you demonstrated. It is a true Nigerian capability that you have demonstrated, but more importantly, this is a story of Lagos no dey carry last.
“For us in Lagos, we will work with your planners to see how we further celebrate you. And it is not really about you being the one celebrating; it is about the future.
It is about the girl-child. It is about the power of possibilities. It is about the power of the mind. You are a complete African story that we can showcase,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Julius Aregbe, Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos, applauded Pelumi for “demonstrating a can-do spirit”.
He also described the travel content creator as a “role model for other young Lagosians”.
Car finally rests at Lagos Museum
Pelumi’s car nicknamed Lumi, a Peugeot 107, was an integral part of Pelumi’s 68-day-long adventure
Lumi’s new place will now be the Lagos State Brand New J Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History as a monumental gift where tourists will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the ride.
By donating Lumi to the Lagos Museum, Pelumi hopes to inspire others to embark on their exciting adventures and explore the world.
From being driven through the Sahara Desert, a fatal accident, and long drives both day and night, Lumi stood the test of time.
Pelumi said, “My dearest Lumi, I had my most vulnerable moments with you, and it’s only right that I let the world experience how tough you are (just like me).”
“The car tears and deep conversations I had with you like you were human will forever be remembered. I can’t wait to watch all of our videos we both went through it.”
Pelumi’s next steps
Pelumi said she is passionate about travelling and will continue to explore while inspiring others, especially women, to step out of their comfort zone to get things done.
“I have always being a traveller. I have travelled to over 80 countries, and I am going to continue, I am not going to stop suddenly,” she said.
“I want to continue to inspire the young generation in the educational service as well as policy changes, especially with our border control. We need to do better to make sure that Africa is a free continent to travel to.”
For Pelumi, this sterling accomplishment is due to her grit, hard work, perseverance and determination. This is indeed a motivation for many young Nigerians in constant pursuit of excellence in their various callings.
Her feat has brought glory not just to her, but also to her country, Nigeria, Africa, and the black world. It is a reflection of her resilience and passion. It also embodies the true spirit of doggedness and tenacity of purpose.
