Lagos King Supports New Cycling Club for Youths

The Onilegbale of Lagos, Oloye Gbolahan Oki, has shared plans for a cycling club aimed at young people and adults in his area. He promised to sponsor 50 to 100 children and youths to join as the first members.

The traditional ruler, also known as Ogboni Iduntafa, made this announcement when a team of 25 cyclists from Velo NG Community visited the palace. They came to celebrate Isese Day and promote the culture of Lagos.

He praised FT Cycle Care for using cycling to develop the community. He mentioned that the club will be run by FT Cycle Care and Velo NG Community in partnership with the Catalytic Cycling Foundation.

According to him, the club will empower youth through cycling. It aims to break the cycle of poverty, cut down drug abuse and the use of harmful substances among young people. It will also promote tourism, fitness, and the cultural values of Lagos.

The leader of FT Cycle Care expressed gratitude for the trust given by the monarch.

"We are deeply honoured by Kabiyesi’s trust. This is more than cycling. This is about giving Lagos youths a new path: discipline, purpose, and opportunity. With Kabiyesi’s support and our partners at Catalytic Cycling Foundation and Velong Community, we will build a club that makes the community proud," he said.

The cycling club plans to offer structured training, mentorship, bicycle maintenance skills, and opportunities to join local and national cycling events.

Velong Community, based in Fadeyi, started as a small group of cycling fans. It has now grown into a mentorship program. Through weekly rides and workshops, they have introduced over 200 young people to cycling, covering topics like civic responsibility and entrepreneurship. The lead coordinator, Engineer Femi Thomas, stated that they are focused on building leaders, not just cyclists.

"Cycling teaches patience, teamwork, and resilience. These are the very qualities we are instilling in our young people to prepare them for leadership," he said earlier.