Nigerian Woman Drives From London To Lagos, Covering Over 10,000 Kilometers

Pelumi Nubi, a Nigerian adventurer and travel content creator, makes history by becoming the first Black female traveller to drive 10,000 km from London to Lagos in two months.

Pelumi embarked on an epic solo road trip from London on January 24 2024 to Lagos, Nigeria, covering over 10,000 km in her small and trusty purple Peugeot 107.

Image: Pelumi Nubi

Pelumi’s extraordinary journey took her through 17 destinations across Europe and West Africa, including France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, and Ghana.

On this journey of ultimate discovery, she witnessed the beauty and diversity in the cultures, languages and people of the nations she visited, all whilst documenting her once-in-a-lifetime experience on social media.

“I aim to share this adventure authentically, reminding us that while we all face the inevitable end, only a few truly embrace the essence of living! So please go ahead and do the things that set your soul on fire – that goal, get to it, that email send it, that project start it. Life is incredibly short!” Pelumi stated.

Image courtesy of Joyce Oladeinde

What sets Pelumi’s journey apart is her unwavering spirit, even in the face of adversity.

Pelumi specially modified her car for the journey by adding a sleeping area and a kitchen that enabled her to camp in most of the countries she visited.

However, as she journeyed through the West African country of Ivory Coast, she experienced a terrifying accident that severely damaged her car.

Luckily after walking away unscathed and with the help of kind strangers, Pelumi fixed her car and moved forward, undeterred in her mission to reach her final destination: the vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria.


Throughout all the ups and downs Pelumi has been dutifully sharing her journey, relishing every opportunity to highlight stories from the incredible communities she’s encountered.

Her excitement is palpable as she recounts her experiences: “It’s been an incredible adventure, filled with beautiful surprises. On the way, I enjoyed parasailing over what was once the world’s largest bridge in Southern France, witnessed the breathtaking Sagrada Família in Spain and stopped to witness the enchanting city of Chefchaouen, the blue jewel of Morocco.”

Image courtesy of Joyce Oladeinde

Although Pelumi will enjoy the title of being the first Black Female traveller to undertake this journey, the adventure itself was not about the title or the miles.

She highlights the stories from the communities she encounters while solo travelling, offering a perspective rarely showcased in the media, especially from the viewpoint of a Black British West African woman.

Pelumi left her PhD in Cancer Research and Human Genetics early with conflicting emotions, views the journey as a reaffirmation that she has the freedom to live life on her own terms and accomplish difficult tasks along the way.

In doing so, she has shown the courage to change course in the pursuit of happiness and self-discovery.

As she continues to share her travel story, Pelumi hopes to inspire others to push through their comfort zones and embrace change in the face of fear and stagnation.

Pelumi Nubi is a purpose-driven travel content creator and connector who thrives on exploring less commonly visited countries, currently living in Dubai.

Calling both the UK and Nigeria home, while having ventured to 80 countries across 6 continents, her engaging content inspires her community to embrace life with fearlessness and embody true freedom.

She is committed to showing that travel can be safe, easy, and achievable, particularly for Black women who want to travel solo.

Author: Abu Bakarr Jalloh

Abu Bakarr Jalloh is a Sierra Leonean content writer, author, Neo Pan-African and founder of The African Dream, an online platform for inspiring, positive and compelling African stories. Contact: abubakarrjalloh@theafricandreamsl.com WhatsApp: +23276211583

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