I called on God during my solo flight  round the world-Nigerian Pilot

Dayo Emmanuel

A Nigerian pilot who recently flew solo round the world, creating a record as first African to achieve such feat has disclosed how God helped him to success.

The record-setter told journalists at the Lagos airport recently about his experience as the first African to fly solo round the world.

Born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents from Ogun State, Ademilola Odujirin developed his aviation dream as a child. He relayed how as a little boy he developed interest in making kites with newspapers.

“I was inspired to be a pilot from the age of 10. I recall the habit of making kites out of the newspapers that my father bought until I got myself in trouble. When I got the opportunity to travel out of the country, I saw it as an opportunity to get closer to my dream. I enrolled to train as a pilot,” he explained.

Defeating insinuations that the feat was impossible with a small one-engine aircraft, the 38 year old told journalists how he commenced on the journey. “I started the journey in the United States of America. But before I started, I heard that the Ooni of Ife was in the USA, so I sought to meet him for his blessings,” he said, adding that, “The monarch gave me his blessings and the journey began.”

Telling reporters about his challenging moment on the trip, Odujirin relayed how he trusted on God who eventually gave him the victory.

Talking about his challenges, he told the media that “Another very challenging part of the journey was the weather. For instance, I was stuck in South East Asia for two months due to bad weather,” he added.

On his survival strategy, he revealed that, “I lived on water and energy bars just to avoid food as I didn’t have access to toilets.” “I called on God, I had to put my Bible round my chest and I was reading Isaiah 43. That happened on the pacific Ocean,” he said.

Starting from the United States, the pilot who returned to the UK at age 17 traversed the world on a single engine aircraft. Iceland was his next touch from where he moved through other European nations to Africa then into Asia.

 One of Odujirin’s aims was to encourage Nigerian and African youths; inspiring them to achieve their legitimate dreams and aspirations. He also wishes to correct the negative perception of the world towards Nigeria and redefine the African narrative.