My history-making solo flight around the world
Ademilola Odujinrin grew up with one ambition: to be a pilot. He set off to fly his single-engine plane across 5 continents and got an unexpected helping hand from a rock star.
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Ademilola "Lola" Odujinrin always dreamed of becoming a pilot, and although his father was against the idea and pilot training is expensive, Lola worked hard to make his dream a reality. But he had one other ambition: to fly - solo - around the world. He bought his own single-engine plane and set off to cross five continents. When he ran out of money just three stops into his journey, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson stepped in to help and Lola finally achieved his goal in 2017, becoming the first African to fly solo around the world. He's now working as a commercial pilot based in the UK. This interview was first broadcast in August 2022.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Presented by: Emily Webb
Produced by: Eric Mugaju & June Christie
(Photo: Ademilola “Lola” Odujinrin. Credit: Courtesy of Ademilola “Lola” Odujinrin)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 1 Apr 202304:32GMTBBC World Service West and Central Africa
- Sat 1 Apr 202318:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sat 1 Apr 202323:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 2 Apr 202308:32GMTBBC World Service except Australasia, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
- Sun 2 Apr 202322:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Mon 3 Apr 202302:32GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
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