Dreams do come through, but for 25-year-old Mamadou Safayou Barry, he had to embark on a challenging 4,000km (2,500 miles) bicycle journey  across West Africa with the goal of securing a spot at his dream university, Egypt’s prestigious Al-Azhar.

His journey started from Guinea in May with the hope of gaining admission at Egypt’s Al-Azhar, however, this expedition was plagued with encounters with Islamist militants and political upheavals. Along the way, he faced arrests and extremists, which tested his commitment to pursuing his educational aspirations at Al-Azhar University.

He explained that even though he couldn’t afford both an Islamic studies course and airfare to Egypt, he was willing to make the epic journey through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Chad due to the university’s esteemed reputation, according to the BBC.

Barry indicated that he was extremely happy when he was awarded a scholarship for his studies at Al-Azhar University upon reaching Cairo. Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest Islamic institutions of higher learning established in AD670. It stands as a globally significant institution for Sunni Islamic education.

The prestigious position of the university was the driving force behind the risky journey the Guinean father embarked on from home in pursuit of Islamic knowledge. But, it was marked by suspicion and challenges in several countries along the way. He faced formidable challenges while traversing Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where frequent attacks by Islamist militants on civilians and recent political coups have created an atmosphere of significant instability.

He described the journey through these nations as exceptionally difficult due to the lack of security in the region. During his journey through Mali and Burkina Faso, Barry encountered a region marred by numerous problems and fearful inhabitants. He described being treated with suspicion by locals and often witnessing a strong military presence armed with heavy weaponry and vehicles.