(PICTORIAL) GWR: Nigerian content creator nears historic seven-continent record, highlights passport barriers

26-year-old Nigerian travel content creator, Alma Asinobi, attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across all seven continents in 60 hours has travelled across six continents and is closer to the end of the journey.

PUNCH reports that as the youngest and only Black solo record attempt in this category, she is determined to challenge and transform the narrative surrounding passport inequality.

Her attempt, dubbed #AlmaChasingContinents and #7in60 seeks to break the current record of 64 hours set by Johnny Cruz Buckingham on 23 February 2025, using only her Nigerian passport.

In the course of her attempt, Asinobi has been vocal about the numerous visa and travel setbacks she encountered due to her Nigerian passport.

Unlike travellers from countries with better passport privileges, she noted that she has had to navigate complex visa requirements, expensive travel arrangements, and flight cancellations that threatened to derail her record attempt.

Following a delay from the initial scheduled date of March 15, her journey officially began on March 20 from King George Island, Antarctica, where Asinobi boarded a flight that kickstarted the countdown.

Visiting one continent after another, her journey has taken her from King George Island in Antarctica to Chile in South Americ, the Dominican Republic in North America, Spain in Europe, Egypt in Africa, Dubai, UAE in Asia, and Asinobi’s final stop is Sydney in Australia, which will mark the completion of her journey.

Her record-breaking attempt has drawn the attention of many as supporters track her journey in real-time through a provided live location tracker.

Beyond attempting a world record, Asinobi’s journey which is now trending on X.com has sparked conversations about passport inequality and the barriers that travelers from developing nations face.

She also used her platform to highlight how expensive and complicated travel can be for citizens of countries with limited visa-free access.

“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 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,” she added.

Giving further updates, Asinobi posted when she departed Europe, “Cairo here we comeeee. For a lirru context, I was supposed to head to a different African country but I wasn’t allowed to check in online because of my passport and check in closed but when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade and sell the t-shirt.”

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 continued.

Asinobi’s next and final stop is Australia, which will mark the completion of her journey.

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.” She wrote in a separate post on Instagram.