Sanwo-Olu administration backs grassroots sports as Cycling Lagos enters 5th edition

R-L: Secretary, Lagos State Cycling Association, Mrs. Kikelomo Salvador-Adebayo; Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Mr. Adebanji Adeoye Atewogboye; Silver Medal Winner, Professional Category, Daniel Sunday; Gold Medal Winner, Agbo Francis; Bronze Medal Winner, Faruq Animasaun,
and Convener Cycling Lagos, Bamidele Adeleye, at the 5th Cycling Lagos event held at the National Stadium in Surulere on Saturday

Stanley Ihedigbo

The Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Mr. Adebanji Adeoye Atewogboye, has flagged off the fifth edition of Cycling Lagos, with Agbo Francis emerging champion of the male professional category for the second consecutive year.

The event, held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the National Stadium, Surulere, commenced with a 3.6-kilometre kick-off ride led by Atewogboye.

The fun ride started from the National Stadium, proceeded through Alaka Bridge and returned to the National Stadium gate.

Speaking at the event, Atewogboye reaffirmed the commitment of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration to grassroots sports development, healthy living and youth engagement across Lagos State.

He said Cycling Lagos had evolved into a flagship initiative for promoting fitness, community bonding and tourism, in line with the THEMES+ Agenda of the administration.

“Today, we are not just riding bicycles. We are riding for health, for unity, and for the future of sports in Lagos.

“The Sanwo-Olu Administration will continue to invest in and support initiatives that take sports to the grassroots and make Lagos the sports capital of Africa,” he stated.

According to him, the state government would continue to create opportunities for Lagos residents to participate in sporting activities while positioning Lagos as a hub for safe, inclusive and sustainable sporting events.

Earlier, the President/CEO of Cycling Africa Limited and Convener of Cycling Lagos, Bamidele Adeleye, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for creating an enabling environment for sports development in the state.

Adeleye also appreciated the Governor’s aide for his continued support and encouragement for the Cycling Lagos initiative.

He described the fifth anniversary of the event as a significant milestone achieved through the commitment of government agencies, sponsors, cyclists and other stakeholders.

“Celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Cycling Lagos event is a great milestone, which could only have been achieved through the commitment of the government, its agencies, brand sponsors, cyclists and other stakeholders.

“We are very proud of how far we have come. This is just the beginning,” he said.

In the male professional category, Agbo Francis of Lagos State successfully defended the title he won in 2025.

Agbo, who finished second in 2024 before winning the championship in 2025, retained the crown after completing the approximately 80.31-kilometre race.

The race began at the National Stadium and took the cyclists along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road before returning to the Stadium.

Daniel Sunday, also representing Lagos State, won the silver medal, while Faruq Animasaun, another promising Lagos cyclist, claimed the bronze medal.

The female professional category was not held this year due to the low number of cyclists who registered online ahead of the competition.

Young cyclists, however, featured prominently, with participants competing in the Under-15 and Under-10 categories.

In the Under-15 male category, Adesoga Temitope of Oyo State won gold, while Azeez Mohammed, also of Oyo State, took silver. Popoola Emmanuel of Lagos State settled for bronze.

The Under-15 female category saw Oyo State athletes dominate the podium.

Azeez Hazanat, who won the gold medal in 2025, successfully defended her title, while Aminu Olamide also retained her championship for the second consecutive year. Azeez Aminu won the bronze medal.

In the Under-10 male category, Abubakar Miyeed of Lagos State emerged winner, with Amao Malik of Ogun State taking silver and Adesoga Oluwatoku of Oyo State winning bronze.

The Under-10 female category saw Zainab Olarewaju of Lagos State win gold, while Adeleke Shindara and Farida Abasi, both from Oyo State, won silver and bronze, respectively.

The event attracted professional cyclists, children, cycling enthusiasts, corporate organisations and residents, reinforcing Cycling Lagos as a platform for healthy living, youth engagement, social impact and sports tourism.

Activities for the 2026 edition began on Thursday, September 3, with a webinar themed “Trash to Treasure: Unlocking Recycling Capacity for a Sustainable Future.”

The webinar brought together industry experts and stakeholders to examine ways of expanding Nigeria’s recycling capacity, strengthening the circular economy and addressing the country’s growing waste-management challenges.

The 2026 Cycling Lagos was sponsored by Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Aquafina, a brand of Seven-Up Bottling Company (SBC), with support from AIICO Multishield Limited, Checkers Custard, Golden Penny Foods, Stanbic IBTC, Adron Homes, Leadway Holdings, Tolaram Wellness, Mountains Energy Solution, BrandEscort, among others.

The annual event is organised by Cycling Africa Limited in collaboration with the Lagos State Cycling Association.

Cycling Lagos brings together cycling enthusiasts from different parts of the country while promoting healthy living, cycling culture, environmental sustainability and youth engagement through the sport.

This version keeps the sports angle prominent, while also highlighting the Lagos State Government’s grassroots-sports initiative and Agbo’s back-to-back achievement.