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Nigerian Rotarian and adventurer Olatunji Emmanuel Okedeyi has said his long-distance cycling journey across several countries has been inspired by what he saw as a child and his desire to help end polio.
Speaking during an interview with News Central TV on Saturday about his motivation, he said growing up around hospitals exposed him early to the effects of the disease.
“I grew up within the hospital community… I’ve seen children affected with polio. I’ve seen limbs and legs amputated as a result of polio,” he said.
He explained that these experiences stayed with him from the age of about nine or ten and shaped his passion for advocacy.
Okedeyi said his involvement with Rotary International also strengthened his commitment, as the organisation has long been involved in the global fight against polio.
He said he saw an opportunity to raise awareness, support vaccination campaigns, and encourage families to ensure children between zero and five years are vaccinated.
On the challenges of his journey, he described difficult weather conditions across different countries, including strong winds in Europe and North Africa.
Nigerian Rotarian and adventurer Olatunji Okedeyi says his long-distance cycling journey across multiple countries was inspired by childhood exposure to polio cases, which motivated him to raise awareness and promote vaccination for children under five.#EmmaRidesForZeroPolio pic.twitter.com/wIJIceu6Dx
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) June 20, 2026
“When I get to Paris, it was windy… Morocco has been a very windy journey,” he said.
He added that parts of his route covered nearly 2,000 kilometres through desert areas, with harsh winds from both the sea and desert sides.
Despite the difficulties, he said determination kept him going.
“The wind has been very, very, very… it has battered me a lot. But the hand cold has kept me going… otherwise, I would have quit,” he stated.
Okedeyi is using his journey to support the global campaign to end polio, tagged #EmmaRidesForZeroPolio, while raising funds and awareness for vaccination efforts.
