Nigerian becomes first African to fly solo around the world

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP |  Nigerian airline pilot Ademola Odujinrin, known as “Lola”, has become the first African to fly solo around the world, his foundation Transcend said in a statement Thursday.

The 38-year-old Nigerian left Washington in September last year abord a Cirrus SR22, a small, single engine airplane, and stopped in more than 15 countries on five continents during the journey, according to the statement.

Odujinrin landed at his starting point at Dulles Airport, just outside the American capital on March 29.

“I want African children to think: ‘I can do this too!'” Odujinrin said.

The website Earthrounders lists Odujinrin as the first African among the 120 pilots who have flown around the world solo since American Wiley Post became the first to do so in 1933.

A commercial airline pilot since 2011, Odujinrin works for Air Djibouti, which partially financed the project.