{"id":8460,"date":"2022-09-22T16:38:47","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T16:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/?post_type=blog_post&#038;p=8460"},"modified":"2025-08-30T16:42:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T16:42:05","slug":"8460","status":"publish","type":"blog_post","link":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/blog-post\/8460\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee Unveils Rotarian Kunle Adeyanju as Celebrity Ambassador"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"166\" data-end=\"492\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8462 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482240700_9404463242966388_2585974359633257629_n-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482240700_9404463242966388_2585974359633257629_n-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482240700_9404463242966388_2585974359633257629_n-1024x634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482240700_9404463242966388_2585974359633257629_n-768x475.jpg 768w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482240700_9404463242966388_2585974359633257629_n-1536x950.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482240700_9404463242966388_2585974359633257629_n.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>On <strong data-start=\"169\" data-end=\"192\">21st September 2022<\/strong>, the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee proudly unveiled <strong data-start=\"252\" data-end=\"279\">Rotarian Kunle Adeyanju<\/strong>, popularly known as <em data-start=\"300\" data-end=\"318\">\u201cThe Lion Heart\u201d<\/em>, as its <strong data-start=\"327\" data-end=\"351\">Celebrity Ambassador<\/strong>. His fearless spirit, inspiring journey, and personal dedication to the fight against polio make him a true symbol of courage and service.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"524\" data-end=\"836\">Rotarian Kunle Adeyanju, the <strong data-start=\"553\" data-end=\"622\">Imaginative President of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro (2022\/23)<\/strong>, has long been recognized for his daring adventures and passion for humanity. A self-acclaimed daredevil, he has twice climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and once rode a motorcycle from Lagos to Accra in just three days.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"838\" data-end=\"958\">But his most remarkable feat came in <strong data-start=\"875\" data-end=\"883\">2022<\/strong>, when he embarked on a bold journey that captured the world\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1001\" data-end=\"1341\">Driven by compassion and fueled by courage, Kunle set out on a <strong data-start=\"1064\" data-end=\"1110\">motorcycle expedition from London to Lagos<\/strong> to raise funds and awareness for polio eradication. Over the course of <strong data-start=\"1182\" data-end=\"1193\">41 days<\/strong>, he rode <strong data-start=\"1203\" data-end=\"1238\">13,000 kilometers (8,100 miles)<\/strong> across <strong data-start=\"1246\" data-end=\"1276\">11 countries and 31 cities<\/strong>, facing extreme terrains, harsh weather, and dangerous routes.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1343\" data-end=\"1748\">His journey took him through the <strong data-start=\"1376\" data-end=\"1398\">Tizi n&#8217;Tichka Pass<\/strong> at the peak of the Atlas Mountains, across the<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8463 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482250140_9404463292966383_3428275474929680230_n-300x268.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482250140_9404463292966383_3428275474929680230_n-300x268.jpg 300w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482250140_9404463292966383_3428275474929680230_n-1024x914.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482250140_9404463292966383_3428275474929680230_n-768x686.jpg 768w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482250140_9404463292966383_3428275474929680230_n-1536x1371.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482250140_9404463292966383_3428275474929680230_n.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <strong data-start=\"1446\" data-end=\"1473\">scorching Sahara Desert<\/strong> with temperatures soaring up to <strong data-start=\"1506\" data-end=\"1522\">53\u00b0C (127\u00b0F)<\/strong>, and through countless trials that tested both his strength and determination. Riding at speeds of up to <strong data-start=\"1628\" data-end=\"1649\">150 km\/h (93 mph)<\/strong>, he completed the desert crossing in seven days\u00a0 a true testament to his endurance and resolve.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1750\" data-end=\"1997\">Kunle often shares that this mission was inspired by a <strong data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"1883\">childhood friend who suffered from polio and sadly passed away years later<\/strong>. His ride was more than an adventure \u2014 it was an act of remembrance, advocacy, and hope for a polio-free world.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2320\">Born in <strong data-start=\"2060\" data-end=\"2090\">Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria<\/strong>, Kunle Adeyanju has always been committed to growth and impact. He completed his primary and secondary education in Nigeria and later attended <strong data-start=\"2234\" data-end=\"2268\">Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria<\/strong>, where he first joined Rotary as a campus member.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2322\" data-end=\"2598\">In <strong data-start=\"2325\" data-end=\"2333\">2009<\/strong>, he pursued postgraduate studies and earned a <strong data-start=\"2380\" data-end=\"2399\">Master\u2019s degree<\/strong>, and as of June 2022, he is advancing his academic journey with <strong data-start=\"2464\" data-end=\"2511\">doctoral studies in Business Administration<\/strong>, specializing in <strong data-start=\"2529\" data-end=\"2556\">Social Entrepreneurship<\/strong>, at the <strong data-start=\"2565\" data-end=\"2595\">University of Arizona, USA<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2632\" data-end=\"2965\">From scaling mountains to crossing deserts, Rotarian Kunle Adeyanju embodies the Rotary spirit of <strong data-start=\"2730\" data-end=\"2752\">Service Above Self<\/strong>. His London-to-Lagos ride not only raised significant funds for Rotary\u2019s fight against polio but also reignited global conversations about the urgency of finishing the race to end this disease once and for all.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2967\" data-end=\"3164\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8461 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482247271_9404463146299731_3888529599404533412_n-300x163.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482247271_9404463146299731_3888529599404533412_n-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482247271_9404463146299731_3888529599404533412_n-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482247271_9404463146299731_3888529599404533412_n-768x417.jpg 768w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482247271_9404463146299731_3888529599404533412_n-1536x833.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/482247271_9404463146299731_3888529599404533412_n.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>By appointing him as a <strong data-start=\"2990\" data-end=\"3014\">Celebrity Ambassador<\/strong>, the NNPPC recognizes his unwavering courage, his humanitarian heart, and his ability to inspire millions to join the fight for a polio-free world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 21st September 2022, the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee proudly unveiled Rotarian Kunle Adeyanju, popularly known as \u201cThe Lion Heart\u201d, as its Celebrity Ambassador. His fearless spirit, inspiring journey, and personal dedication to the fight against polio make him a true symbol of courage and service. Rotarian Kunle Adeyanju, the Imaginative President of the Rotary [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"blog-category":[],"class_list":["post-8460","blog_post","type-blog_post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_post\/8460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_post"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog_post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8460"},{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/polioplus.org.ng\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=8460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}