Captain Olatunji Emmanuel Okedeyi, the Nigerian biker who completed a remarkable 12,200-kilometre solo London to Lagos motorcycle ride to raise funds and awareness for the global polio eradication campaign, received a heroic homecoming in Ibadan on Thursday.
Okedeyi, who embarked on the historic cross-continental journey from June 12 to July 7, was warmly welcomed in his ancestral home by traditional rulers, community leaders, Rotary members, fellow bikers, and admirers in recognition of what many described as a rare act of courage and selfless service to humanity.
The day’s activities began at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, where the monarch offered royal blessings and commended Okedeyi for using his passion for motorcycling to champion a health cause of global importance. In a major boost to the fundraising drive, the Olubadan also pledged £1,000 towards the rider’s campaign.
CCII Honours Trans-Continental Biker
The celebration later shifted to the headquarters of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), where the formal Ibadan homecoming ceremony took place. During the event, Okedeyi was honoured with an award plaque in recognition of his outstanding humanitarian service.
Presenting the award, CCII President-General, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, described the feat as an extraordinary achievement that had brought honour not only to Ibadan but also to Nigeria. He praised Okedeyi’s courage, resilience, and commitment to saving children’s lives through advocacy for vaccination and wished him greater success in future endeavours.
The ceremony attracted several high-profile dignitaries, including the Chairman of the CCII Board of Trustees, Dr. Adedosu Balogun; Chief Waheed Ekun; Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, who anchored the event; Okedeyi’s mother, Mrs. Okedeyi; Chief Mrs. Bola Doherty; and Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Olatunji Makinde, GPJ, CON.
Delegations were also present from the Rotary Club, led by Rotarian Kunle Adeleke; the Oluyole Social Elite Club, led by Builder Simeon Oludele Solademi; and the Oyo State Bikers Association, including Mr. Adesola Adesina, popularly known as Ade Omo Ade.
Inspiration Behind the Campaign
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Olatunji Emmanuel Okedeyi said the campaign was inspired by childhood memories of witnessing the devastating effects of polio while growing up in hospital quarters where his late father worked as an ambulance driver for the Oyo State Government.
According to him, seeing children left permanently disabled or losing their lives because they were not immunised planted the seed for what later became his mission after joining the Rotary Club, an organisation that has spearheaded the global polio eradication campaign for decades.
“I felt I had a responsibility to give back to humanity,” he said. “That was why I decided to ride from London to Lagos—to create awareness and raise £100,000 towards polio vaccination.”
The Road Ahead for Global Eradication
Although the 25-day expedition has ended, Okedeyi said the fundraising campaign remains active, expressing delight that donations continue to pour in, including the pledge made by the Olubadan during the palace reception.
Reflecting on the demanding journey across 14 countries and two continents, the biker described it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that enabled him to engage people from different cultures while educating them about the continued threat posed by polio.
He noted that although many believe the disease has disappeared, it remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, warning that no country is completely safe until the virus is eradicated worldwide. He urged parents to ensure children between the ages of zero and five receive all recommended vaccinations, stressing that immunisation remains the most effective protection against the disease.
Okedeyi also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming reception he received in Ibadan, describing it as emotional and unforgettable.
“I am proud to be an Ibadan man,” he said. “From the palace to the reception organised by the CCII, the love has been incredible. It shows that Ibadan celebrates excellence, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported this cause.”
He added that the journey had profoundly changed his outlook on life, saying true success should be measured not by wealth or possessions but by the number of lives positively impacted. According to him, the greatest legacy anyone can leave behind is service to humanity.
Turning to systematic efforts to eliminate polio, Okedeyi called on governments to intensify vaccination campaigns, strengthen public awareness, and ensure that expectant mothers receive adequate education during antenatal care.
He also urged health facilities to administer polio vaccines to newborns before they leave the hospital, rather than relying solely on parents to return later, saying such measures would drastically improve immunisation coverage and give every child a healthier start in life.
