Pelumi Nubi, a 29-year-old travel influencer born in Lagos and raised in London, received a hero’s welcome in Nigeria last week after completing a solo road trip from London to Lagos in under three months.
Beginning her adventure on January 24 with her purple Peugeot 107 named Lumi, she documented her journey across 17 countries, including France, Spain, Morocco, and Ghana, on her Instagram page. According to her, she embarked on her record-setting journey to inspire solo black female travelers and prove that such adventures are achievable.
Upon her arrival in Lagos, she was greeted with a grand homecoming led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who presented her with a brand new house and car on behalf of the state as a token of appreciation for her remarkable achievement, as reported by Daily Mail.
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In a heartfelt video shared on her social media, the content creator was visibly emotional after Governor Sanwo-Olu presented her with a brand-new car. She also announced to her followers that her journey had earned her a role as a tourism ambassador, and the state had offered to reimburse her travel expenses.
She wrote: “This is getting too much! Lagos my city. Lord how did we get here? Thank You Jesus. Meet the newest brand ambassador of tourism in Lagos state.
“Grateful to His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State Jide Sanwoolu, for the warm reception, generous gift of all expenses on my London to Lagos trip paid for, new car with my customized plate number, a beautiful home in Lagos!
“Truly, God’s blessings overflow! Congratulations to us guys!!!! Lumi now has a sister.”
Prior to beginning her months-long journey to Nigeria’s largest city, Nubi disclosed that she has dyslexia but was determined to complete the trip independently. Describing it as a “crazy idea,” she expressed her excitement about the challenge and aimed to demonstrate to others that “impossible is just a word.”
She wrote: “For months, I’ve been chatting with folks who’ve tackled similar adventures. As far as I know, no black woman has made this journey before. But hey, this isn’t about breaking records.
“It’s about showing the world that ‘impossible’ is just a word, especially when you’ve got enough grit and determination. I can’t fully describe my emotions right now but I am just so excited to finally put it out there – no matter the outcome!”
Nubi, who outfitted her compact Peugeot with sleeping and kitchen amenities for the journey, has been filled with emotion ever since embarking on her voyage.
Speaking to CNN Travel, she said: “When I crossed into Morocco, I literally broke down crying. And it wasn’t sadness.
“It was just this overwhelming feeling of [realizing] wow, I overcomplicated this process in my head. I really thought it would be more difficult than it was. And it made me wonder what else in my life I was overthinking.”
Nubi’s journey was marked by adversity, including multiple breakdowns and a harrowing car crash. On March 26, she took to her social media page to document the aftermath of a front-on collision. Her cherished vehicle, Lumi, sustained significant damage to its front side. Nubi filmed herself inside an ambulance and later in a hospital bed receiving treatment.
She revealed that the crash happened in Ivory Coast after a driver allegedly parked his truck in the middle of a highway. She said after the crush: “I am deeply thankful to be alive! This kind [of] incident comes with a deeper appreciation life.
“It also brought me a lot of joy that Lumi is getting fix[ed]. Thank you all once again for your kind wishes.”
