Eric Patrick
A Nigerian travel content creator Alma Asinobi is on a quest to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across all seven continents in just 60 hours. Having successfully traversed six continents, she is now approaching the final leg of her remarkable adventure.
She took to her Instagram account on Sunday to share photos of her journey so far.
First News gathered that the 26-year-old seeks to break the current record of 73 hours set by Sujoy Kumar Mitra and Dr Ali Irani using only her Nigerian passport.
According to her, in the course of her attempt, she has been vocal about the numerous visa and travel setbacks she encountered due to her Nigerian passport.
Asinobi highlighted the challenges she faced during visa requirements, expensive travel arrangements, and flight cancellations that nearly jeopardized her record-setting endeavor.
Asinobi’s journey officially began on March 20 from King George Island, Antarctica, where she boarded a flight that kickstarted the countdown.
Asinobi said, “I don’t even know if it’s because of the Heathrow fire thing, but the bigger issue is that the only other flight to Europe is to Madrid, and it’s full. The worst part is that the next flight to Europe is on Monday.
“Even if I don’t break the record, I just want to finish what I started. I want to prove that limitations are not denials,” she shared during one of her challenging moments.
“My village people free me naaaaaaaa! We have a whole lot of work to do for our passport and our spot in the world. It feels like as I am chasing continents, my village people have started chasing me.
“I just wanted to help someone out there with a low-mobility passport like mine, dream beyond all the restrictions. I just wanted conversations to start so my fellow Nigerians can enjoy the beauty of access that developed countries enjoy. I didn’t want the dreams of my people to be restricted because of the colour of their passport.”
In her latest update, Asinobi shared her adventure as she left Europe, saying, “Cairo, here we come! Just to give a bit of context, I was originally planning to travel to another African country. However, I ran into an issue with my passport that prevented me from checking in online, and by the time I arrived, check-in had already closed. But when life hands you lemons, you turn them into lemonade and make the best of it!”
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Upon arriving in Egypt, Asinobi wrote on Saturday, “Made it to my continent! So bummed I couldn’t go to my home country, Nigeria. I won’t lie, I’m missing the jollof, the puff, and all our sweetness… but don’t worry I’ll be home soon. Let’s bring this home.
“Tired but not defeated! Continent 5 done and dusted, let’s chase 6 shall we? Dubai, UAE! We are going to Asia – Continent 6! The visa processes for UAE are not very favourable for Nigerians right now, but… here we comeeee. I hope that through this movement, things like this can change,” she further stated.
She wrote on X.com on Sunday, “I was just denied boarding on my flight to Perth, Australia for my final leg of the trip. Due to visa issues.
“I was put on standby for confirmation from Australia till boarding closed and the gate agent had to rebook me on the next flight to Australia. He asked me to choose between Brisbane and Sydney, and I chose Sydney since it’s the Australian city I’ve always wanted to visit anyway.
“I was tempted to cancel the flight altogether and just head home to where I’m loved, but I’m not one to start something and not finish. This journey has taught me way more than I set out to learn. I’m taking the sweet with the sour and hoping that one day – hopefully in my lifetime – we see change.
“From where I’m standing, we’re nowhere close to that day, but I know it’s possible. Hanging my boots here for now, till I land in Sydney, on my last continent, and recover from all the humiliation and stress I’ve taken in huge doses within the past 56+ hours. I’ve cried, I’ve run, I’ve met new people along the way, and now I’m nearing the finish line.
“Right now, my final mission is to fly our Nigerian flag on the 7th and final continent and bring it home. I cannot wait to be home, and I cannot wait to see you when we come out in solidarity to sign this flag.
“Dear green passport, all the hardships we’ve faced so far on this journey, I hope it counts for something. You won’t believe all the privileges, access, and options that were available but not to me, because of the colour of my passport.
“The things I missed, the routes I couldn’t take, the extra checks I was subjected to, the delays I experienced just because of my passport. Me and my passport have seen shege promax in the last 52+ hours.”
