For many Nigerians, it’s a nightmare travelling with their “green passport” as most Nigerians traveling often times prefer to use alternative passport just to avoid the usual rigorous screening of the “green passport “‘
Nigerians traveling abroad have been subjected to an untold experience with immigrations across the globe owing to the damaging reputation few Nigerians have accrued to what is supposed to be our national pride thereby reducing Nigeria ‘s to a lowly rating of 197 in the ranking of international passports.
McDolly Ogundana also known as Mr Tourist with an official name of ‘the9jaboy”’ is a young Nigerian not dismayed but rather pushing through the tough route to change the narrative of the green passport with his adventure into tourism in close to a decade.
McDolly has traveled to over one hundred and fifty five countries across the seven continents of the world only with his “green passport “ and willing to do even more as he pushes for a change of narratives of “green passport ‘
He agreed that it is admissible that some Nigerians have soiled the passport but yet there are thousands of Nigerians doing exploits across the globe which out numbers the few “blacksheeps;” it is there imperative for Nigerians to embrace the green passport with a bid of changing the narrative ‘
His quest to changing that narrative and passion to be known as the most traveled Nigerian with the “green passport” and also the most traveled African motivated him into a globetrotter.
For McDolly it’s being a mixed reactions on his encounters with immigration personnel across the globe as he narrates his experience when he started and today. His green passport now receives same treatment with other top rated passport while recounting how he was passed through an immigration desk in less that a two minutes and another in less than four minutes compared to his early stages when he had to go through the rigors screenings’
With Nigeria’s dwindling economy and its over reliance on oil that is gradually been faced out, McDolly is taking the driver’s seat in adding thrust to the tourism industry as he is currently touring some of the tourist sites in Nigeria with the aim of attracting both local and international tourists to them
‘the9jaboy” the non-celebrated Nigerian ambassador is optimistic that Nigeria is blessed with so much tourism sites that can turn its current economic woes around in a matter of time if only the right personnel and investment are made in the tourism industry.
He further reiterated that of about one hundred and fifty five countries visited so far that Nigeria still remains among top nation with wonderful sites for tourism with each state having its unique sites .
Having identified the challenges of the industry that includes lack of adequate data, he is working to providing the government (Ministry Of Culture and Tourism) with adequate data on tourism in Nigeria.
He believes that with the right data the government will be guide in making the right choices towards the development of the tourism industry.
The9jaboy can be reached via any of his social media platforms: YouTube @The9jaboy , Instagram @the9jaboy, Twitter/X @the9jaboy, Facebook: the9jaboy.
