Lagos monarch lauds cycling club for empowering youths

The king of Lagos, Oloye Gbolahan Oki, has announced his intention to establish a community cycling club for both young people and adults within his jurisdiction. The monarch, whose complete title is Ogboni Iduntafa, announced the plans during a visit from a 25-man cycling team representing Velo NG Community, supported by FT Cycle Care and the Catalytic Cycling Foundation. The cyclists paid a visit to the royal palace to commemorate Isese Day and promote Lagos' unique culture.

Oki expressed his admiration for FT Cycle Care's use of cycling as a means to foster community development. He announced that the club will be managed by FT Cycle Care and Velo NG Community, in collaboration with the Catalytic Cycling Foundation. According to the monarch, the club's main objectives include empowering young people through cycling, breaking the cycle of poverty, curbing drug abuse and illicit substance usage among youth, promoting tourism, fitness, and Lagos' cultural values.

The lead of FT Cycle Care praised the trust bestowed upon them by Oki. Prudential Zenith Life has also stepped up its efforts in the Lagos sanitation drive. Meanwhile, Abbas unveiled new projects and empowered youths and women in Kaduna. The Lagos Water Utilities Commission revealed that the water network currently reaches only 1.03% of residents, highlighting the need for further improvement.

The club will provide structured training, mentorship, bicycle maintenance skills, and entry into local and national cycling events. Velo NG Community, a group based in Fadeyi, has grown from a modest group of cycling enthusiasts into a mentorship program. Through weekly rides and workshops, they have on-boarded over 200 young people, offering sessions on civic responsibility and entrepreneurship.

Their lead coordinator, Engineer Femi Thomas, emphasized that the program aims to build leaders, not just cyclists. "Cycling teaches patience, teamwork, and resilience," Thomas explained, "qualities we are instilling in our young people to prepare them for leadership."