The Out Of Nigeria project is by far the single largest project I’ve embarked on, besides getting married. Now, on a train back to Stockholm from the Ice Hotel at Kiruna, I look back at the past 4 weeks and how far we have come, against all odds. Truth be told, even if I have to say so myself, we pulled off quite a stunt and jumped through countless hoops just to be here. What we were able to do with the 15 days Shenzhen visa we were given has been almost unbelievable. It’s not really quite all sunk in yet.
The objective of this project was simple. To inspire. To engage the world in discussion about Nigeria in all her positivity. Showcase our beautiful country in her prom dress, figuratively speaking. Much has been said about our country in recent times, all negative, mostly deserved. Yeah, we haven’t really helped ourselves at all on the international scene, and not having a single internationally viewed news and lifestyle platform leaves us exposed to the mechanization of foreign perception which the rest of the world clings to. Our cat is so belled and we are unable to retell nor advertise the achievements of any of our millions of hard working citizens who struggle virtually unnoticed, striving to overcome life’s multiple challenges. As we all know, no news sells like bad news and so our current currency of export as far as world media is concerned is only the corruption, insurgency and violence of the ethnic, religious and political variety. I think time has come to make a stand. Embark on change. Rewrite our Happily Ever After. As with the drop and the ocean moral, no ripple is too small. Conditions permitting, a ripple can grow into a wave. That’s my sincere belief and by embarking on this project, Toyin was clear that we must take our story of the true Nigerian spirit out into the world, a seed we hope and pray will be nurtured someday into an oak.
We have been privileged during this trip, to have audience with a large variety of people from very diverse works of life, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, races and creeds. It’s been mind blowing. From the relatively conservative French, the efficient Germans, the bubbly spirited Italians, (including my positively insane friend Davide from Milan), we met all sorts of people, and engaged in some really deep and sincere dialogue about our country, it’s foreign image, the negative actions of a few black sheep from our country, foreign impressions of us and our politics, past relationships, if any, they might have had with Nigerians. All said, we hope that in the minds of these people at least, we have planted that seed. Fingers crossed. During our time here, though completely short changed by visa duration, we were able to meet with prominent motorcycle magazines and tv personalities who believed in our project…..almost more than Toyin and I did!! One young writer for a Dutch Motorcycle magazine actually rode an hour plus in the freezing rain to meet with us in Germany when he heard we couldn’t make Holland anymore. That’s humbling.
Our day at Touratech in Germany was like a script straight out of a really good movie. Toyin had to do a lot of the talking on our behalf because my brain functions took leave of me that day, I was so awestruck. The company CEO took time out of his busy schedule to meet with us and we were able to exchange views about our common denominator, motorcycle adventure. The man is nothing short of an icon. Believe that!!! I stared and gawked, gawked and stared in some kind of “replay all” mode. A day to cherish.
As with all things regarding this project, the mission objectives were also in a constant state of evolution. While riding thought the largely unspoiled beauty that is Africa, it became clear that we needed to try and relay a message home to Nigerians about the progress being accomplished by all our continental neighbors in all aspects: infrastructure, development, security chief amongst these. The base line here, folks, is our neighbors are getting on with their lives while we wallow in the self deception of our status in continental politics and events. We need to wake up. The 21st century bus is leaving the station and it will be a shame if we aren’t on it.
The experience of this project can’t be complete without saying thank you to a lot of people. I will try not to leave out anyone. Remember though, Forgiveness is divine. My wife and kids, whom I hope to be reunited with soon, Toyin Adebola, the mastermind and financier for this project. Rohit Nandal, who got us audience with Gen. Obasanjo (rtd.), Raph and Raha, our awesome project management team from Tanglewood Productions. They are also responsible for developing the amazing online media platform through which we could share and engage people about our experiences. Our friends and online support, without whom this would just have been 2 guys riding off “somewhere”. Your followership and useful comments showed that we are an informed people and this all made the sacrifices worthwhile. Salute! Fitzgerald Murray-Bruce, who met and rode with us in Accra, Ghana. Seems like a lifetime ago now. Aminata, Gerald and our Casa Mara family who made our forced stay in beautiful Dakar, Senegal, bearable and understood our grumpiness. Merci! Thanks, Gerald. Your enthusiasm for all that’s good about our country Nigeria is both infectious and commendable. Be strong, bro. Amandine, our French host. Margaret, from Touratech, who hooked us up with awesome thermal gear. You are a lifesaver. Mr. Herbert Swartz, the CEO of Touratech. Thank you for your time and unbelievable generosity. Thanks to Claudio Gynpek for the introduction. Francesco Veneziani in Milan, whose constant brainstorming helped us out of a scrape or two along the way. Tom, who braved the elements to meet with us. Crazy Davide Virardi, who rode an hour and a half and waited another 3 hours for us at the Switzerland/Italy border just to show us into Milan.
Now, as we near the end of this adventure, we make a mad dash across the Swedish countryside to catch a flight out of Stockholm before our visas expires in a couple of days, leaving Raph with the unpleasant task of getting the bikes shipped out to the prearranged rendezvous on our great continent, I dial “reflection mode”. Reliving all my experiences with my now confirmed best friend and brother, Toyin Adebola. He’s made up of all the right ingredients…happy, sad, worried, excited, bullish, charming, moody, electric……all at 200 miles an hour. Built like a GS1200. Thank you, sir. I hope I get the honor of revenging soon. Visiting the python house and walking the slave “road of no return” in Benin Republic, the Basilica in Cote D’Ivoire, being turned back from the Mauritanian border like some homeless waifs, the unforgiving French bread we had to eat everyday for breakfast, French and Italian words and phrases we picked up along the way, places we visited, willingly or otherwise, like the quaint antiquated fishing town of Saint Louis in Senegal, the Louvre and Eiffel Tower in Paris, the ever incompetent airfreight agent, Sheriff from Smith & Craft, Dakar, winding mountain roads in Zurich, the German autobahn with no speed limits, the freezing cold and hot coffee everyone is so hyped about, which is never actually hot, but lukewarm, snowmobile riding in Sweden, sleeping in the sub-degree cold room at the Ice Hotel, feeding reindeer and eating Moose sandwiches.
God has proven Himself great in my life. I will be forever grateful for His steadfastness. We have all truly been blessed by this project, in ways we may not even yet fathom. Are we better people for this experience? I want to believe so. Would I have done things differently? Maybe. Hindsight is always married to 20/20 vision. Did we succeed in inspiring anyone? I hope so. Is the job done? Not by a mile!!!!!! Hehehehehe.
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