Sustainable Cycling Foundation (SCF), a leading non-profit organization committed to the growth and development of cycling in the continent has unveiled its ‘Kit and Kin’ initiative.
The initiative in partnership with Access Bank, Cocoon Homes, Kingston Wheelers and Craneburg Construction was unveiled during a press event at its head office in Lagos on Saturday, 24 August, 2019.
Addressing the press, Iboroma Akpana, a trustee of the Foundation, explained that the future of every country depends on the youth and given the demographic bulge in this segment in Nigeria, the Foundation has decided to massively invest in the talents of young cyclists and create opportunities through the sport for them to actualize their potentials both as athletes and as citizens that will be useful to self and society.
“We are focused on building a solid foundation for future leaders to maximize their potentials. Working with our partners, including Specialized UK and Sigma sports, the SCF realized that we can further empower young Africans to create better lives for themselves, improve their communities, and build global recognition,” he said.
“Our mission is to connect African youths through cycling, provide opportunities for competition, promote healthy living, and empower generations,” Akpana added.
The mission of SCF is to use the sport of cycling to empower young people on the continent and build the next generation of leaders, the initiative is envisioned to support the launch of the Pro-Continental cycling outfit, Team Access-Cocoon, Nigeria’s first professional cycling team whilst also serving as a boost to the cycling ecosystem on the continent.
Andy Edwards, a representative of Kingston Wheelers said, “This is our second year working with the Sustainable Cycling Foundation and we have stepped up our involvement. The images of last year’s Lagos Crit made a big impact in the UK, with my club and through a feature in the UK’s bestselling cycling magazine Cycling Weekly, on a national level also. The SCF and its partners demonstrate the vibrancy and talent within the Nigerian cycling scene and the potential to grow the sport not only in Nigeria but across Africa as a whole, and we are delighted to part of this.”
Through the initiative, the Foundation will provide thousands of items to cycling communities over the next few months to ensure cycling is transformed into a major sport in West Africa.
The SCF remains committed to setting standards for sustainable cycling by adopting innovative practices to build a desirable cycling future for Africa that is founded on clean sports, merit and zero tolerance to corruption. In addition to its support of “five local cycling teams, which it helped establish, the Foundation has also established a cycling shop and bike maintenance facility and sponsored several bike races and training camps whilst it continues to make positive contributions to the cycling ecosystem.
BUNMI BAILEY
