Lagos woos Otedola to champion inaugural cycle fest as state pushes clean mobility drive

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Lagos State Government has appealed to billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Femi Otedola, to lend his influence to the forthcoming Lagos Cycle Fest as part of efforts to promote active living, environmental sustainability, and non-motorised transport in the state.

The appeal was made by the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, in an official statement made available to journalists on Monday ahead of the August sporting event.

Fatodu said Otedola’s recent cycling activities across global cities had positioned him as a natural fit to inspire wider public participation in the initiative.

Otedola, who has been seen cycling in cities including Paris, Singapore, and the Maldives, has drawn attention for promoting cycling as both a fitness pursuit and a symbol of clean mobility.

According to Fatodu, the Lagos Cycle Fest is designed as a multi-dimensional sporting and wellness platform aimed at advancing conversations around zero-emission transportation and healthier urban lifestyles.

“From the Maldives to Singapore, and recently in Paris, Otedola has continued to apply more power to the pedal across these global cities, demonstrating physical fitness while also promoting clean mobility and zero-emission transportation,” Fatodu said.

He explained that the initiative aligns with Lagos State’s broader vision of encouraging sustainable transportation and healthier living, noting that the project is being implemented through the Lagos State Sports Commission in partnership with the British Cycling Association.

Scheduled for August, the Lagos Cycle Fest is expected to bring together cycling enthusiasts, fitness advocates, and environmental stakeholders in a city-wide celebration of active living and sustainable mobility.

Fatodu added that the initiative followed strategic engagements with British Cycling, focused on technical collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building aimed at strengthening cycling culture in Lagos.

He further stated that Otedola’s involvement would significantly boost visibility and participation in the event.

“In identifying with his growing passion for cycling and his visible promotion of healthy living across global cities, the Lagos State Sports Commission is optimistically calling on Otedola to champion Lagos Cycle Fest and inspire thousands of Lagos residents to embrace active living, clean mobility and a healthier lifestyle,” he said.

Meanwhile, although Otedola has recently shared cycling videos on Instagram from Lagos, there has been no official response from him to the Lagos State Sports Commission’s invitation as at press time. The businessman has also not issued any statement on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the proposed engagement.

The Cycle Fest forms part of Lagos State’s ongoing strategy to promote sustainable transport options and encourage public health through active lifestyle initiatives.