On January 15, Omo Alokwe finally arrived
Lagos from London. Not as a passenger on a
flight or ship. Rather, he touched down in the
commercial capital of the nation on a
motorbike. He had spent one month, three days
on bumpy roads across 11 countries. They
include the United Kingdom, France, Spain,
Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Senegal,
Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria.
It was a record-breaking adventure, one that no
one had ever conceived or undertaken. It was a
trip many thought was impossible. Yet, Alokwe
didn’t just discard the doubts but went ahead
to cover the 5,000 miles distance that spans
several routes and harsh conditions. The UK-
based business analyst said his many friends
that he told about the expedition tried to talk
him out of it.
“They wondered what was in it and if I would
ever make it. There were genuine concerns but
I was not apprehensive because I realised life
is about taking risks and overcoming
obstacles,” he said with a smile.
But there were a few supportive friends who
gave their consent reluctantly. Much as they
wanted him to embark on the record-breaking
trip, they also admitted it would be fraught with
difficulties.
Bumpy rides, tough difficulties
But difficulties don’t bow the Edo-born Alokwe.
He rather revels in them. And they came in
regular torrents, as if bent on breaking his
nerves. But Alokwe, who grew up in tough
environments in Warri, Delta State before
proceeding to the University College, London,
was more than prepared.
“I had everything well worked out. It took me
over a year to think through and plan for the
trip. I got information on the routes, the
weather conditions, the cities and towns to
have stop-overs and all that. I was pretty
prepared,” he enthused.
But being prepared does not stop challenges
from showing up. The harsh, cold weathers in
many countries during the trip were killing. But
Alokwe weathered through the storms. “I was
travelling from morning till evening every day.
Some days, I travelled long distance and some,
short distance.” He shared.
In Morocco, Alokwe arrived late in the night.
Getting a place to stay was tough.
Communication with locals was even more
strenuous. But a God-sent Italian, who was
also biking, came to his rescue. He spent the
night with a local couple the Italian connected
him with.
There was also a tough knack with language
barriers. “I only speak English and Pidgin. But
most of the countries I visited speak Arabic and
French,” he revealed. But through sign
languages and gestures, Alokwe succeeded in
scaling through again.
Joy in cultural diversities
But the excitement of meeting people from
different cultures and backgrounds during the
ride compensated for the difficulties.
“What I
experienced is better felt than explained. I was
literally riding into places I never imagined. I
was intrigued by how people live different lives.
“This was not about reading a book or
watching a movie. I was right in the thick of
these events. In Mali, I was received by the
locals and given a mash of rice, spaghetti and
beans to eat. I wouldn’t ever consider that as a
meal but I ate it with much joy,” he explained.
Different races, same people
In Niger, Alokwe was exposed to practical
friendliness that wowed his imagination. “It was
as if they were waiting for me. I rode to a
village to a wide applause. When my front tyre
broke down, the locals used rice and garri to
patch it up for me. It was such fun that money
cannot buy,” he added.
While Christmas was in Morocco, New Year met
Alokwe in Senegal. “I never knew I could
celebrate New Year and enjoy myself with total
strangers. Yes, we had never met before but we
all felt happy and close.”
In all, Alokwe, who embarked on the trip to
raise $20,000 for Doctors Without Borders, an
international, medical humanitarian group,
experienced the spontaneity of human
kindness. “I realise people are generally kind
and accommodating. I mean I was more or
less bumping into them but without complaints.
Some will take me in, feed me and give me
directions.
“Some were attracted by the ride and the trip.
They were amazed that I was biking from UK to
Lagos. They didn’t judge or condemn me. We
simply laughed together. They didn’t care who
I was or what religion I was practising. They
were just there to enjoy the moment with me
and help out if need be,” he expatiated.
This, according to him, has exposed the big
manipulation behind human differences. “I think
everybody is just the same everywhere. We all
just want happiness and peace. We don’t care
what the other person believes or worships,”
he started. “I believe some guys somewhere
are fuelling the tension in the world with
religion and culture. We are just basically the
same.”
Alokwe is still way off the mark for the targeted
fund. He has barely $2,000 in the kitty, less
than ten percent of his target. “I wished I had
more because Doctors Without Borders really
need the funds to support people affected by
wars, conflicts, epidemics and natural disasters.
They did so much during the Ebola crisis. But
the forex restriction has affected donation from
Nigeria.”
Eyeing another world record
Yet, he is far from being discouraged. He has
planned another trip in the next few weeks, this
time in Nigeria to raise funds. He is eyeing the
Guinness Book of record for longest bike trip
within a country. The current record stands at
38,000KM in India. “I intend to do 39,000km to
break the record. I believe it is doable,” he
stated.
It is a feat that will not only put Nigeria on the
global map again but further consolidate
Alokwe’s place in the world of adventurers. But
he is optimistic he will more than pull it off. “If
I could ride in unfamiliar terrains among
strangers in harsh conditions for over a month,
I believe I will be better in my country,” he
enthused.
On what the last trip has taught him, he said:
“It has reinforced my belief in the fact that
nothing is impossible to do for those who dare
to venture. If one waits in life, many things will
just get past one without participation. I had
fears about security and attacks in many of the
volatile nations I visited, yet I emerged
unscathed.
“This means that most of our fears are
unfounded and fake. I learnt that people are
good and accommodating. We are all the same
with a common humanity. I realised there is
nothing to be afraid of and that possibility is
just an effort away.”
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