In an interview with OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, road safety advocate and GRA Empowerment Foundation founder/president Mr. Gabriel Rotimi Aroge described how his organization is using cycling as a workable way to remove the cost of transportation to schools for underprivileged public school students through an initiative he called “Cycle2School Plus (C2S+).” A thousand bicycles will be donated during the pilot project’s launch in September and October. Quotes:

Tell us a little bit about yourself, sir.

I am Gabriel Rotimi Aroge, the GRA Empowerment Foundation’s founder. In addition to advocating for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), I also support non-motorized transportation and road safety.

I’m a social entrepreneur and design thinker who is enthusiastic about innovative solutions and their impact on communities, particularly those that empower marginalized kids.

Tell us about the causes that motivated your lobbying activity.

Our work has several facets. As a social enterprise developer and product designer, I specialize in leveraging cycling as a workable way to improve educational access for underprivileged Nigerian public school students. Our program, Cycle2School Plus (C2S+), will offer free, secure transportation to students—particularly girls—who are hampered by lengthy and hazardous walks to school. Its pilot phase is scheduled to begin in September or October.

An unfortunate accident at the Agric Bus Stop in Ikorodu on October 21, 2006, which claimed the lives of over 100 persons, gave rise to this advocacy.

As the sole survivor, my wife spent a year recuperating. This profound loss in my life sparked my mission. I decided to use creativity and grassroots empowerment to make a difference after realizing the seriousness of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Since our target beneficiaries are members of the most vulnerable and endangered road user groups, promoting the safety and improvement of walking and cycling is central to our development.

Due to Nigeria’s low level of road safety education, cyclists and pedestrians are frequently presented with challenges on the road by unfriendly, untrained, and hostile drivers.

We think we can be “the change” in tackling the low level of road user illiteracy in Nigeria by utilizing a platform such as Cycle 2 School Plus.

We are implementing C2S+ because we think it is necessary to democratize, decentralize, and enterprise road safety.

Do your audience and partners understand what you’re saying?

Yes, but there’s still opportunity to improve. We see our vision as being in line with SDGs 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13, 16, and 17. Through a single scalable platform, we are tackling poverty, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, poverty alleviation, health and well-being, quality education, sustainable cities, climate action, peace justice, and strong institutions and partnerships.

The biggest issue we are now facing is reorienting Nigerian drivers; funding for a program aimed at changing their behavior is desperately needed to assist them recognize the efforts of law enforcement.

According to our estimates, 70% of people will support our initiative; the remaining 30% will depend on how effectively we present cycling as a revolutionary option. Leaders in the business sector and policymakers need to realize that this is a need, not an extravagance.

Which of your accomplishments to date stand out?

At the Sussex Innovation Centre in the United Kingdom, the Executive Director of ReCycle Bikes was hosted in Africa.

conducted a work visit to the Colchester, UK, warehouse of ReCycle. Worked with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to host the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week and arranged the first-ever visit to Nigeria by ReCycle’s Executive Director in February 2025.

In 2025, we commemorated World Bicycle Day alongside FRSC and other collaborators. designated brand ambassadors, such as Afitz Bakare, a former national cycling champion.

recruited Dr. Charles O’Tudor, a brand strategist, as a mentor and fundraising coordinator.

After receiving a contribution of 1,000 bicycles and international assistance to bring our first container of 500 bikes into Nigeria, we now want local support to finish the program’s implementation plan.

How are your operations financed?

Our greatest asset is our human capital, which includes partners and volunteers who have years of pro bono experience. Over 500 bikes were shipped to Nigeria, and ReCycle UK paid for all of the expenses.

Over £10k was spent on a company incubation program sponsored by the Sussex Innovation Centre. In addition to providing technical support for our operations today, Brighton Bike Hub trained me as a volunteer.

If we had to pay for all of these out of pocket, the price would be very high. The Brighton Bike Hub, where I first volunteered as a mechanic apprentice during my Master of Science program at the University of Sussex, introduced me to Re-Cycle Bike to Africa, our main partner, who has contributed 1,000 bikes to support the start of our pilot program in Lagos.

These international partners might help me without knowing who I was or where I came from. They went to Nigeria to confirm our allegation, and they are going to press even harder than they have in other African nations since this cause is so admirable.

However, we need Nigerian partners to maintain this momentum. We are encouraging banks, insurance companies, FMCG companies, telecom companies, and charitable institutions to participate in this momentous endeavor.

With annual transportation costs of up to N90,000, education is not free. This burden will be removed with C2S+.

We will be introducing a school-children bicycle fleet for the first time, which will provide them with free bicycle service for the duration of their attendance.

You would assume that free education is what you hear. What about transportation? And is that free? This ongoing daily expense, on the other hand, typically causes many students to drop out of school, while those who are able to do so must trek for a considerable amount of time and in a hazardous manner to get to school in a staggered pattern. This does not result in the exceptional outcome and optimal performance that these children would have if they had been given the same opportunities as their peers.

Regarding bike infrastructure, how would you advise the Nigerian government to proceed?

Though behavioral change is more vital, infrastructure is crucial.

Campaigns for road safety, policy enforcement, and public education should come first. Prior to the effectiveness of any infrastructure, we must address driver aggression and risky driving practices.

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Furthermore, bike lanes and accessible pathways need to be incorporated into urban design for cities like Lagos. Complete implementation of LAMATA’s Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) policy is required. We must, however, make safe use of what we have.

How can we lessen Nigerian traffic accidents?

All users of the road should get road safety education. Enforce traffic regulations and penalize infractions; justice serves as a deterrence.

From now on, educate the future generation in schools. Advocate for walking and bicycling as practical modes of transportation.

Incorporate and promote SDG 16 (Peace and Justice) into the governance of transportation.

Our Cycle2School+ initiative will help today’s drivers get ready for tomorrow.

Better road safety measures, such as speed bumps and signage, should be implemented, and traffic laws should be enforced more strictly. In addition to reducing the number of cars on the road, encouraging cycling can also help minimize the likelihood of accidents.

What are the financial advantages of cycling in Nigeria?

It is affordable: It lowers transportation expenses for low-income families.

It’s healthy since it lowers medical costs and encourages fitness.

Eco-friendly: Reduces emissions and safeguards our climate.

It’s a company: Sparks nearby repair businesses, training facilities, and rental properties.

Congestion in densely populated places like Lagos is reduced, which makes it wise.

How do you envision the GRA Empowerment Foundation in five years?

By 2030, we hope to be the most prominent non-motorized transportation advocate in Nigeria, with a presence in each of the 36 states.

We intend to: Establish training hubs in collaboration with universities (such as LASU, UNILAG, and NITT). Create a nationwide corps of volunteers. Establish cooperatives for community-owned bicycle repair.

Make scholarships available via our impact tracking platform. Expand school-based Road Safety Clubs by working with FRSC.

What last remarks would you like to make to philanthropists and the private sector?

Despite without having to know us personally, international partners have fulfilled their obligations. They made an investment after seeing a compelling concept. Nigeria must now take the initiative. Together, we can collaborate with state governments, impact investors, Rotary Clubs, global corporations, and good-willed citizens. By working together, we can provide free, secure, and respectable mobility for education.

Join us and show your support. A single bicycle has the power to permanently alter a child’s life.

Professor Charles Soludo, the current governor of Anambra State, has received congratulations from Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, on his birthday.
In a Monday message posted on his 𝕏 account, Obi referred to Soludo as his older brother.
The leader of the Labour Party wished Governor Soludo health, strength, and wisdom so he might continue to serve Anambra State and Nigeria.

Greetings on your birthday to Prof. Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra State.

“Your Excellency, my beloved older brother, my family, and I join other good-willed men and women in celebrating another year with you today.

“May God grant you health, strength, and wisdom as you serve our beloved state and country.”

Enjoy your birthday, Your Excellency. -PO,” he wrote.

President Bola Tinubu has been charged by Obi with further impoverishing Nigeria and its people.

According to Peter Obi’s personally signed declaration, which was made public on Monday through his 𝕏 account, Nigeria is currently ranked among the world’s most hungry countries under Tinubu’s leadership.

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When Tinubu was running for president in 2023, the leader of the Labour Party recalled how Tinubu chastised him for using statistics a lot.

In order to hide his shortcomings as president, Obi claimed that the same Tinubu is now spreading false information about Nigeria’s economic status after taking office.

The former governor of Anambra State reportedly came to the conclusion that leadership is not difficult and asked President Tinubu to lead with compassion, competence, competence, compassion, and purpose.

As a lack of trainer aircraft disrupts training at the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, Kwara State, a pilot shortage could soon affect the Nigerian aviation sector.

Due to recent serious incidents involving its only remaining trainer airplane, the college no longer has trainer aircraft for training its student pilots, a source close to the institution told our correspondent over the weekend.

In a phone conversation with our correspondent, however, the college refuted the assertion, stating that it now has two operational planes for student pilot training.

At its height, the college, which was founded in 2011 by then-state governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, had six trainer aircraft. However, according to sources close to the college, it now does not have any operational aircraft for the flying school.

Helicopters, Diamond DA 4Os, and Diamond DA 42s were among the aircraft utilized for the college’s multi-engine rating courses.

Another trainer aircraft registered 5N-BHN crashed-landed in 2019 with no indication that it was ever put back into service.

For the nation’s aviation industry, the college has trained at least 250 pilots with both private pilot licenses (PPL) and commercial pilot licenses (CPL).

A student pilot was hurt when a college-operated trainer plane crashed and landed on Friday, May 23, 2025.

The incident happened at Ilorin International Airport’s Runway 05 during approach.

According to our source, the only aircraft the college had for training that was involved in the serious incident sustained significant damage.

The serious mishap occurred during “a mock check flight” to prepare the student pilot for a CPL check ride, according to our source, therefore the check flight had stalled.

The source also informed our correspondent that the college had applied for permission to buy an engine for one of the fleet’s aircraft so that it could be recommissioned for flight, but as of the time this report was filed, the college had not received permission from the state government to do so.

According to the source, the college is currently floating. It doesn’t have a single plane to perform the necessary test flights for its trainee pilots. As outlined in the training handbook, this is what is typically done, but since that May 23 incident, it has been put on hold.

“A lot of students who are scheduled to take off are waiting because it’s unclear if trainer aircraft will be available. However, we are awaiting action from the state government to turn things around.

The lack of operational aircraft for the college was corroborated by another source, who also did not want his name to appear in print. However, he stated that the majority of the students are presently enrolled in ground school, thus the current situation has not halted their training.

Although we are not currently flying, the majority of the pupils are enrolled in ground school. When they’re done, they’ll take to the skies again. The source stated, “I am certain that aircraft will be available by the time we begin flying.”

Additionally, the assertion that the college lacked trainer aircraft was refuted by Mr. Ajape Abdullahi, the IAC Head of Training.

In a chat with our correspondent over the phone, Adbullahi stated that the college has been accepting and graduating students for the past two months in spite of the serious event involving its trainer plane.

He claims that three pilot students who successfully completed their CPL training were graduated by IAC in June.

Abdullahi informed our correspondent that before to their June graduation, the students completed their practical training aboard the Diamond DA 42 trainer aircraft of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), located in Zaria.

He added that there are currently around 35 pilot students enrolled in the college, including PPL and CPL enrolled in ground school.

He stated: “Diamond DA 42, which is multi-engine equipment, is the only aircraft that we do not currently have.” Remember that we have an agreement with NCAT called a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that allows us to trade equipment.

Our fleet currently consists of two Diamond DA 40 aircraft that are available for practical usage, typically during the last stages of our students’ education. We are still in ground school with our pilot pupils. After that, they will move on to the fly line.

Additionally, we provide our students with hands-on training through a functional simulator. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has accredited the simulator.

Although this is mostly dependent on student performance and weather conditions, the PPL’s maximum training period is six months, consisting of three months in ground school and an additional three months in the fly line. The typical length of time for the CPL is 18 months, which includes 16 weeks of ground school and weeks of fly line training.

Dr. Alex Nwuba, Vice President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), commented on the problem, stating that the college’s inability to have operational aircraft will hinder the students’ ongoing education.

Nwuba recommended that the Kwara State government adequately fund the institution in order to save it from collapsing. He also mentioned that the administration might continue educating its student pilots by purchasing redundant aircraft at a reduced cost.

“It means that their education would be delayed,” he added. “This is common in our educational system, when pupils attend school for a set number of years but wind up staying longer for no fault of their own.

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The state government has the authority to step in if the college really does not have a trainer aircraft anymore. We ought to continue the college. To get things done, it just comes down to priority.

Additionally, the aviation industry analyst Engr. Chukwudi Amokwu suggested to the IAC management that its flying students be transferred to NCAT for fly line.

According to Amokwu, the college’s lack of trainer aircraft meant that “the flying school of the college is gone and it is the major school that sustains them.”

To be eligible for the PPL and CPL, you are required by law to have a specific number of hours. I believe the PPL has roughly six hours of flight time, while the CPL must have at least 200 hours.

Another option is to use a simulator to carry out the training. They can’t obtain a license without the airplane. Any flying school is built on that foundation,” he continued.

He encouraged the management to repair some of the fleet’s unusable aircraft for student training, explaining that bureaucracy may make it difficult for the institution to purchase a new trainer aircraft.

“They can still request permission from the NCAA to have Zaria instructors come and complete the training for them,” he continued.