London to Lagos solo driver receives heroic welcome
By Taiye Olayemi
Pelumi Nubi, the 28-year-old travel content creator who embarked on a solo drive of 68 days from London to Lagos, has received a hero’s welcome at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Nubi embarked on the trip in a car on Jan. 30, and arrived at the Nigeria-Benin Republic Border on Sunday morning, where she was received on behalf of the Lagos State Government by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka.
She had a brief stopover at Badagry, and then headed over to UNILAG where a heroic homecoming was planned for her.
Nubi, in excitement mingled with her well-wishers as she danced to different music of local artistes.
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, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, described Nubi’s feat as the resilience of an average Nigerian.
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.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during 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.
Nubi started from England, crossed into France, Spain and headed to Morocco, then through the West Sahara Desert, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambi, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Togo, Benin and finally reaching Lagos. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Folasade Adeniran
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