After 68 days of traversing roads and borders, Pelumi Nubi, a UK-based Nigerian travel enthusiast, has completed a remarkable solo journey from London, United Kingdom, to Lagos, Nigeria, greeted by an enthusiastic welcome upon her arrival.
Setting off on January 30th, 2024, the 28-year-old embarked on her cross-continental adventure in a modest Peugeot 107 Hatchback, charting a course that spanned numerous countries and diverse landscapes.
Her expedition led her through a diverse array of locales, including bustling cityscapes like London, picturesque countrysides in France and Spain, the exotic landscapes of Morocco and the challenging terrain of the Western Sahara Desert. Crossing borders and traversing vast distances, she made her way through Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Togo, Benin, and finally, her destination: Lagos.
At the Nigeria-Benin Republic border, Pelumi Nubi was warmly received on behalf of the Lagos State government by Commissioner of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, and Special Adviser, Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe.
In an interview with Vanguard, Nubi shared her motivations behind this extraordinary journey, expressing a desire to bridge the gap between her two homes, Lagos and London. She sought to experience West Africa's essence firsthand, a perspective often overlooked in conventional travel narratives.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during the expedition, Pelumi's father, Professor Nubi Gbenga, expressed gratitude for the safe completion of the journey, attributing its success to divine blessings. Despite the inherent risks, including sleeping in her compact car along desolate roadsides and waking up amidst unfamiliar landscapes, Pelumi remained undeterred in her quest for adventure and connection.
