Two Dutch cyclists, Jilt Schayik and Teun Meulepas, on Monday, June 1, 2015 arrived Lagos on a 17,000 kilometre journey on their bicycles from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Cape Town, South Africa.
The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) said in a statement that the cyclists were stopping over in Lagos after riding through twelve countries and two continents in four months.
The statement added that the cyclists would still be visiting eight other countries from Lagos, before getting to their Cape Town destination.
It said that the cyclists were visiting the countries to promote an international youth initiative “building Bridges Project”, aimed at improving relationships between young people globally.
“Building Bridges Project”, an international youth initiative, promotes the United Nations post-2015 agenda from a youth-led perspective.
“The project seeks to improve the relationship between young people on the ground and decision makers at the United Nations.
“The project also draws attention to priorities of youth through constructive engagement with a view to strengthening their development,’’ the statement said.
According to it, the cycling team connects, shares and inspires African and European youths through debates and conferences, to raise awareness on the United Nations’ post-2015 development agenda and gender equality.
The Project, which has evolved into an international foundation, is being supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Focal Point on Youth.
It is also being supported by the United Nations Women and Youth Ambassadors in 17 countries along the West coast of Africa.
