Nigerian Travel Content Creator, Pelumi Nubi, a 28-year-old woman who embarked on a solo road trip from London has arrived in Lagos after over two months.
Pelumi Nubi who arrived in Lagos at about 10 am on Sunday, April 7, was received at the Seme border into Lagos territory by top Lagos State government officials led by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, and her Special Adviser, Mr Idris Aregbe.
Nubi, who has been on a trip for 68 days, arrived at the Nigeria-Benin Republic border where she was received into the country by the Lagos state government.
Ms Nubi who expressed gratitude to God for a safe trip, thanked the state government for the warm reception.
She began her journey on January 31 facing various obstancles along the way.
Ms Nubi at a point pleaded with Nigerians to say prayers for her, this was even when she had a fatal accident during the trip.
Ms Nubi, whose father is a professor in the Department of Estate Management, UNILAG; and the Founder/National Coordinator, Ideal Habitat Initiative, took her fans through her journey of solo drive from London to Lagos in an interesting footage.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, described Ms Nubi’s feat as the resilience of an average Nigerian.
Mrs Ogunsola also described Nubi as the woman with the indomitable spirit.
“For Pelumi to leave London and spend hours on the road, she went through 17 countries. She embodies the Nigerian spirit. She is the second person to do it.
“Nigerians are courageous. She was not afraid of racism and things that might be on the way. I want all of us here to know that there is nothing you cannot do. All that is stopping you is in your mind. Queen Amina of Zaria took to war and conquered; Captain Chinyere Kalu was the first female pilot, among others. Pelumi has shown us that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Pelumi, we are proud of you,” she said.
Addressing the audience, Dr Newton Jibunoh who did a solo drive from London to Lagos, 56 years ago, said he did that four times.
“I did it 56 years ago alone and I have done it four times after and I was hoping to do it again but age will not allow me. Today, I am handing over to Pelumi because there is so much to gain from this,” he said.
During Ms Nubi’s solo road trip, she faced a daunting challenge in March when she survived a crash.
Video footage showed severe damage to her vehicle’s front and a shattered windshield.
Ms Nubi started from England, crossed into France; Spain and headed to Morocco; then through the West Sahara Desert; Mauritania; Senegal; The Gambia; Guinea-Bissau; Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Mali; Burkina Faso; Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Ghana; Togo; Benin before finally reaching Lagos.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
