Meet Alma Asinobi, a 26-year-old Nigerian postgraduate architecture student who’s attempting to break the Guinness world record for the shortest time traversing all seven continents with limited passport privileges. With over 30 countries visited and a travel agency founded, Asinobi is no stranger to breaking barriers and pushing boundaries.
Around the World in 60 Hours: A Nigerian‘s Ambitious Journey
The Nigerian passport is a travel document issued to citizens of Nigeria, allowing them to enter and exit the country.
The passport contains personal details, biographical information, and security features.
According to the Nigerian Immigration Service, there are over 20 million valid passports in circulation.
The cost of obtaining a new passport ranges from ₦25,000 to ₦70,000, depending on the type and processing time.
The Nigerian government has implemented various measures to enhance passport security, including the use of biometric data and advanced printing technology.
Breaking Barriers with a ‘Low-Mobility’ Passport
Alma Asinobi, a 26-year-old postgraduate architecture student from Nigeria, has set her sights on breaking the Guinness world record for the shortest time traversing all seven continents. This challenge comes as she highlights the difficulties of traveling with a ‘low-mobility’ passport, which is ranked 88th on the 2025 Henley Passport Index.
Asinobi’s journey began in 2019 when she set an ambitious goal to visit up to 16 countries every year. However, her plans were put on hold due to the global lockdown caused by Covid-19. Since restrictions were lifted, she has visited more than 30 countries and even founded a travel agency called Kaijego.
A Passion for Breaking Records
Asinobi’s attempt to break the record is part of a growing trend in west Africa where a new generation is embracing breaking records. Since 2023, there have been over 7,000 applications from the region’s 16 countries to set Guinness world records, according to Nicholas Brookes, the marketing director at GWR.
Overcoming Obstacles
Asinobi has faced numerous challenges while traveling with her Nigerian passport. In Egypt, officials kept her from proceeding to Jordan and Qatar for an hour, claiming that due to an airline policy she had to show a return ticket to Nigeria. However, Asinobi stood her ground and eventually resolved the issue by demanding to see where the policy was.
Preparing for the Challenge
Asinobi’s journey will start in Antarctica, where she is looking forward to seeing penguins, and end in Australia. She has been preparing for months and had initially aimed to break the 2023 record of 73 hours. However, an American national, Johnny Buckingham, was certified as the new record holder with a time of 64 hours.
Undeterred, Asinobi took up the challenge, posting on X: ‘Am I crazy enough to challenge a US Airforce veteran to break a mission-planning record with barely a week to plan? YES.‘ She hopes to not only break the record but also set another by asking thousands of people to sign a Nigerian flag she is traveling with at a party in Lagos on her return.
A Community Rallying Behind Her
Fellow Nigerians have rallied to Asinobi’s cause, praising her bravery and determination. ‘This here is bravery and I salute this,’ said Fiyinfoluwa Akinsiku, a Worcestershire-based doctor who circled the world with a Nigerian passport in nine years.
Asinobi’s journey serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that with hard work and determination, one can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
