The Nigerian and travel community has been talking about Pelumi Nubi for the past week and it’s for good reason. She’s the amazing travel content creator who turned the attention of many in her direction by driving solo from London all the way to Lagos, Nigeria in less than three months. Just thinking about it gives us goosebumps! Can you imagine?
We followed her journey and watched her kick off her road trip on January 30, 2024 in London.
She drove from London to France and Spain before making her way into Africa through Morocco. She did all this in her little purple Peugeot, which she calls Lumi, making her way through countless adventures and a few scary moments, to say the least—bad roads, her car breaking down, immigration issues at the borders and even a terrible car crash in Abidjan that nearly took her life. But you know what? She made it, becoming an inspiration and the new Brand Ambassador of Lagos tourism.
We’re not just impressed; we’re beyond proud of Pelumi.
There’s so much we’ve learned from her incredible journey and we think these lessons can light up our own paths, no matter where they may lead.
First off, literally nothing is impossible. Yes, we said it. Pelumi’s adventure is a massive shout-out to this truth. In her own words, she mentioned that her main motivation for this journey was to show the world that nothing is impossible. And if she can carve her path through continents, imagine what we can achieve with a bit of courage and a lot of determination.
Now, let’s talk about the preparation that went into this. Our girl Pelumi didn’t just jump into her car without a second thought. She packed everything from a portable bed to a gas cooker and a water system. Not to forget money and even a portable wash bag for her laundry. And this was probably the least of the planning that went into this adventure. It teaches us to always prepare for the journey ahead, knowing that the road might get rough, but with the right tools, we can smooth it out.
One of our favorite things we noticed about her journey is the joy of enjoying the process! Everywhere Pelumi stopped, she soaked in the culture, connected with the locals, and tried out new experiences. Life’s too short not to enjoy the ride, literally. It reminds us to cherish every moment, every challenge, and every win. This’ll bring us to our next lesson—gratitude.
Even in her toughest times, Pelumi showed us the power of being grateful. Things won’t always go our way, but there’s always, always something to be thankful for.
Don’t give up – these words might seem simple and maybe overused, but they carry a lot of weight and truth. Challenges, mishaps, and even car crashes couldn’t stop Pelumi. She reminds us to hold onto our dreams tightly, to take a moment when we need to catch our breath, but then to get right back up and push forward. Because, in the end, it’s all going to be worth it.
Lastly, we learnt about the power of community. While she had a community back home in Nigeria waiting to rally round her, we’re talking about the community she built along the way. From her new supporters, to the lovely locals that welcomed her into their country and even the lady that was her guardian angel after her crash, like she refers to her. And the people who didn’t even know her personally, waiting for her car to drive into the Nigerian border. It’s almost magical to see that there’s still so much humanity out here.
And to relate that to our personal journeys, they’d always be people who see you and your vision. And they will be there to hold your hand along the way.
The world is wide, full of wonders and challenges waiting to be embraced. We can’t wait to write our own stories of courage and determination, enjoying the process, preparing for our journeys, being grateful through it all, and never giving up.
Pelumi did it, and so can we.
