Asaba, Delta State – August 2025 – Determination, courage, and a vision for Africa’s youth are the driving forces behind Jasmine Dawara Affuoe’s remarkable journey. The young Ivorian cyclist has pedaled her way across five West African countries—from Côte d’Ivoire through Ghana, Togo, Benin, and finally to Nigeria—in a mission to inspire and empower the next generation.
For nearly two months, Jasmine cycled under the rains, across broken roads, and through difficult emotional moments, but she never lost focus. She wanted her ride to send one message to Africa’s youth: we are limitless.
“Regardless of your situation—economic, social, or family background—you have a power within you that nobody can take,” Jasmine said. “You have a talent within you that must serve your community. That is why I embarked on this journey.”
Riding for a Cause
Jasmine’s ride is more than an adventure. She uses it as a platform to raise awareness and funds to provide bicycles for schoolgirls who walk long distances to reach their classrooms. Along the way, she stops to speak with young people, urging them to believe in themselves and their dreams.
Since setting off on June 25, 2025, from Korhogo in northern Côte d’Ivoire, she has cycled through Kumasi and Accra in Ghana, into Togo, Benin, and now Nigeria. Thanks to the ECOWAS free-movement protocol, she crossed all borders without visas, making her 1,500 km-plus journey smoother, though not without challenges.
“The bad roads were tough, but I expected them,” she said. “Africa still needs better roads and cycling lanes to connect young people and cultures. The biggest challenge for me was emotional—my father’s health was not the best during this period, and it weighed heavily on me.”
A Warm Nigerian Welcome
Since arriving in Nigeria, Jasmine has embraced the culture and food, quickly falling in love with egusi soup, pounded yam, amala, and fried plantain. But perhaps her most memorable moment came in Asaba, where she met Dr. Newton Jibunor, the legendary environmentalist known as the “Desert Warrior.”
Jasmine described Dr. Jibunor as one of her greatest inspirations:
“I am happy to be here by the side of Dr. Jibunor, who is an inspiration and a desert conqueror. He inspired young people, including myself, to raise our voices and follow his path.”
The Desert Warrior’s Legacy
Dr. Newton Jibunor is no stranger to daring expeditions. In 1966, at just 27 years old, he drove solo from London to Nigeria across the Sahara Desert, arriving in early 1967. He repeated the feat three more times, completing a total of four expeditions across the Sahara—two of them with Nigerian scientists to raise awareness about desert encroachment and climate change.
Through his NGO, FADE (Fight Against Desert Encroachment), established 25 years ago, Dr. Jibunor has dedicated decades to promoting environmental sustainability in Nigeria and across Africa. His work spans from the northern states bordering the Sahara down to Delta State, where FADE now has its base.
“Her courage, spirit, and determination threw me off balance,” Dr. Jibunor said of Jasmine. “I thought I was probably the foremost adventurer, but her ambition and resilience are extraordinary. Initially, Asaba wasn’t on her route, but I insisted she must come here, because her mission connects deeply with mine.”
A Call to Leaders
Jasmine also directed her message to African leaders, urging them to invest in young people through education, healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental solutions.
“Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with more than 60% of its people under 30. If we don’t invest in these young people now, what future can we expect? The time is now to build an Africa we will be proud of,” she said.
Building the Future, One Ride at a Time
Through her foundation, the Wiri Project (www.wiriproject.org), Jasmine hopes to continue using cycling as a tool to raise funds, awareness, and hope. Her Côte d’Ivoire–Nigeria ride is proof that with courage and determination, the seemingly impossible can become possible.
As Dr. Jibunor reflected on his own Sahara expeditions nearly six decades ago, he praised Jasmine for carrying the torch forward:
“History is made by those who dare. I see in Jasmine the same spirit that drove me across the Sahara. Her journey is not just about cycling—it is about inspiring Africa’s future.”
For young Africans, Jasmine’s journey is a lesson: no dream is too big, no road too long, and no obstacle too strong when courage meets purpose.
