Office of the Deputy High Commissioner of India in Nigeria, the United States Information Service, Asian African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) and other organisations have marked the World Bicycle Day at the Lagos State University, Ojoo, Lagos.
The event which coincided with the 150th birthday of the father of modern India, the iconic Mahatma Ghandhi also featured 150 bicycles for free ride to commemorate the day.
Talking to the press at the event, Coordinator of the event, Mr. Ahmed Adekunle Anrinle said the event was a success majorly because of the positive collaboration that facilitated large participation.
“The Asian African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) and India are the organisers and I am the coordinator,” he said.
Talking about the collaboration that worked, Anrinle, Member, Advisory Board AACCI said, “We partnered with a company called AWA Technology, a company that deals in bicycles. Today all those bicycles are opened for students. We also partnered with Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Security Agency, a security outfit that makes use of bicycles. They brought their bicycles to participate.”
“The office of the Deputy High Commissioner of India in Nigeria was also here. The Information Centre of the United States and the Management of LASU were all here to collaborate with us,” he said, adding that, “This year’s edition of the World Bicycle Day is important to the people of India and all peace loving persons as it coincides with 150th birthday of global icon, freedom advocate and grandfather of civil disobedience, Mohandas Karamchand Ghandhi (Mahatma Ghandhi.”
Continuing on the collaboration, the event coordinator, a graduate of LASU and Chief Executive Officer of Rinllandded Nigeria Limited, said the AACCI is considering compensating the participating students with its membership. “The height of the event was that we want to give membership opportunity of the AACCI to the students that participated at the event. This would encourage them and give them a sense of belonging,” Anrinle said.
On the sustainability of the program, the organisers said the program has come to stay as it promises to be bigger and more successful next year.
“In LASU, it has come to stay, in fact we are going to promote it to be a lecture free day, it is our plan that on that day the students will know that they are coming to ride bicycles, it is to teach them about nature and one of the benefits of bicycle is that it benefits the environment, it is also economical because it is the cheapest form of transportation,” he explained.
Also at the event was a personnel of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Security Agency who told National Wire that “When you go on bicycle, you are exercising. In terms of the economy it is friendly and in terms of the environment it is also friendly.
“You don’t run on fuel. Some people are so lazy to exercise but when they bike, unconsciously they are exercising and shedding excess weight and at the end they are happier,” he said.
Other outfits that participated at the event were Wealthroot Global Ventures, Awatechnology Nigeria Limited (OUR BIKE), Lagos State University Student Union.
