By Juliet Umeh

The BMW Club Nigeria has thrown its weight behind a global road expedition tagged “Lagos to the World,” an initiative aimed at raising awareness on prostate cancer and men’s health across Africa, Europe and other parts of the world.

The initiative, spearheaded by automobile enthusiast and health advocate, Mr. Eric Nwagwu, will see him embark on a solo road trip in his BMW car across multiple countries over a four to five-month period while promoting prostate cancer awareness and free health screening campaigns.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos, President of BMW Club Nigeria, Mr. Theodore Samouris, described the project as a noble and impactful health campaign capable of saving lives through early detection awareness.

According to him, many African men still lack awareness about prostate cancer screening despite the disease being highly treatable when detected early.

“A lot of people are passing away from prostate cancer because they did not detect it early enough. If you detect prostate cancer early enough, it is very curable.

“If you stop 10 men above 40 years on the road today, maybe only one will know he should go for prostate screening. So this campaign is about spreading knowledge and awareness,” Sammouris said.

He noted that the club would provide mechanical, financial and moral support to ensure the success of the expedition.

“We are going to work on the car completely to make sure it is fit for the journey. We will also support financially and morally in any way we can,” he added.

Samouris explained that the choice of BMW for the expedition was driven by members’ passion for the brand and the global support network available through BMW clubs worldwide.

“We are members of BMW Club International and BMW Club Africa. Any country he gets to where there is a BMW club, they will receive and support him. That connectivity is very important for a journey like this,” he stated.

Vice President of the club, Dr Oladapo Aiyegbayo, said the team was confident in the vehicle’s capability and the driver’s technical skills.

“He understands BMW engines very well and has his tools with him. We will also keep other BMW clubs informed throughout the journey,” he said.

Founder of the initiative, Mr. Eric Nwagwu, said the campaign was inspired by the loss of his mother and younger sister to cancer.

According to him, research revealed that one in seven African men could die from prostate cancer, largely due to late detection.

“Prostate cancer is one of the cancers that can be managed successfully if detected early. The problem is that many men do not go for screening because symptoms may not appear until it is too late,” he said.

Nwagwu disclosed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is expected to flag off the initiative on May 31 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He explained that the journey would begin with a road trip from Nigeria to Ghana, followed by another phase covering Senegal and neighbouring West African countries including Cotonou, Lomé, Abidjan, Freetown and Dakar, before proceeding to Europe and other continents.

“In every stop, we will hold men’s health outreach campaigns in collaboration with BMW club members and healthcare partners,” he said.

He added that the expedition would later extend through Morocco into Europe, then onward to parts of Eastern Europe, Russia, Canada and the United States.

Supporting the campaign are Zuri Health, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Studio24 and BMW Club Nigeria.

Chief Medical Officer of Zuri Health, Dr. Uzodinma Umeh, said the campaign aligns with the company’s vision of improving access to healthcare through digital solutions.

“At Zuri Health, we are focused on improving access to healthcare. Through digital tools, people can now consult doctors, book tests and access care directly from their phones. This initiative helps bring health awareness closer to communities,” he said.

Head of Marketing at AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Mr. Nyoe Oye Ogunyooye, said the company’s support was driven by the social impact of the initiative rather than commercial interests.

“What attracted us is the inclusive protection aspect of the campaign. It is not just about travel, but about creating opportunities for people to check their health status and possibly save lives,” he said.

The organisers said the journey would also be documented through the official website, while efforts are underway to secure recognition from the Guinness World Records.