The year 2024 is packed with lots of cycling activities, with the Paris 2024 Olympics the biggest of them all. Yet, the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF) is ready to confront the challenges head on and end the year more successful that it has been this year.
A member of federation, Femi Thomas, told The Guardian that the body has mapped out programmes to consolidate on the successes recorded this year and become better in 2024 as it continues moves to make cycling more popular in the country.
Thomas, a former athlete, stated that the federation were able to achieve 70 per cent of the programmes this year because it was committed to revive the sport across the regions.
Thomas, who is also the chairman of FT Cycle Care, said part of his organisation’s efforts to develop cycling in the country is by inviting corporate support through sales of advert space on the 2024 professional cycling Jerseys.
The initiative, he said, would help raise funds to purchase quality bicycles, run training programmes, give good welfare packages to cyclists and organize regular tournaments within and outside the country to develop the sport.
“I am also using this opportunity to call on the corporate world to take advantage of the opportunity to advertise their goods and services on our customised cycling jerseys. It is pocket friendly and they are assured of good mileage for their patronage,” he said.
A Nigerian national team cyclist, Olawale Ibrahim, has also urged the private sector to join hands with the Nigerian Cycling Federation to achieve its set goals next year.
Ibrahim commended FT Cycle Care for organising the monthly Ogun State cycling criterium, noting, however, that it is still not enough to make Nigerian cyclists world stars.
According to Ibrahim, other countries’ cyclists get support from corporate bodies and government funds to hone their skills, adding that Nigeria would start challenging the more advanced nations if such support was given to its cyclists.
At the December edition of the monthly Saturday cycling crit, FT Cycle Care gave awards to individuals and corporate bodies, who contributed towards the growth of cycling in Nigeria.
