Re-Cycle and GRAEF Launch Cycle-2-School Pilot
Gabriel Rotimi Aroge Empowerment Foundation (GRAEF) | February 2026
Bikes to Nigeria
Re-Cycle is pleased to share an update on our work in Nigeria, where we began a new partnership in early 2025 with the Gabriel Rotimi Aroge Empowerment Foundation (GRAEF).
Together, we launched the Cycle-2-School Plus (C2S+) initiative, designed to tackle one of the biggest barriers to education: safe, affordable travel to school.
For many students, long and costly journeys—often on unsafe roads—make regular school attendance difficult. C2S+ uses bicycles as a practical, sustainable solution, helping students travel further, faster and more safely, while easing financial pressure on families.
Bikes to Nigeria
From the UK to Nigeria: The Pilot Takes Shape
Bikes to Nigeria
In August 2025, Re-Cycle shipped its first container of refurbished bicycles to Nigeria, marking the start of this pilot year.
Alongside the bikes we sent spare parts and tools, ensuring the programme is built for long-term use and local sustainability.
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First Bicycles Distributed in Lagos
Bikes to Nigeria
The project has now moved into active delivery. On Friday 30 January 2026, GRAEF carried out the first bicycle handover at Government Technical College (GTC) Ikotun, Lagos.
During this initial phase, 20 Re-Cycle bicycles were distributed to students from low-income backgrounds who travel long distances to school.
This is the first step in a wider plan to provide 100 bicycles to GTC Ikotun, with a further 80 bikes due to be handed over soon, alongside high-visibility jackets. As part of the programme’s road safety focus, all students must wear a helmet when cycling.
Students were selected using route and needs assessments to ensure bicycles go to those who face the greatest transport challenges. Feedback from students and families highlighted the immediate impact the bikes are having on daily attendance and access to education.
Bikes to Nigeria
Expanding to More Schools
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Beyond GTC Ikotun, the programme will expand to 11 additional schools, with plans to provide 10 bicycles to each school. These bikes will be allocated to students who need them most to travel safely and reliably to school, ensuring support is targeted where it will have the greatest impact.
Road safety remains central to the C2S+ initiative. In addition to mandatory helmet use, students receive high-visibility jackets and road safety guidance.
The programme is designed around long-term impact, with monitoring focused on attendance, safety and sustained bicycle use rather than one-off distributions.
Education in The Gambia
Bikes to Nigeria
Looking Ahead
Bikes to Nigeria
This first distribution demonstrates the real, on-the-ground impact of Re-Cycle bicycles in Nigeria—enabling safer journeys, improving school attendance and supporting brighter educational outcomes for vulnerable students.
Nigeria is Re-Cycle’s seventh country of operation in Africa, and this pilot year marks the beginning of a partnership with strong potential to grow and reach many more students in the months ahead.
Bikes to Nigeria
To support projects like this and help fund future shipments, consider donating to Re-Cycle.
