News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise tagged, “Africa Unite Bike Ride’’ is under the auspices of MzansiNaija and Inspire Marketing & Branding International.
Mr Yinka Abioye, Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Marketing and Branding International, told NAN on Wednesday in Abakaliki, South East Nigeria that the ride will involve a minimum of two Nigerian and four South African bikers.
“They are going to visit historical, cultural and geographical places of interest in South Africa, one of them being the Mandela Bridge.
“The objective of the ride is to instill and encourage unity among African people by reshaping African minds about who we are, the value we can bring to one another, and the benefits of ‘building bridges across the continent.
“Bikers under the initiative, visit an African country annually to highlight and celebrate one another and to continue fostering relations and sacrifices that our prior leaders contributed to the various countries and our continent,” he said.
Abioye told NAN that the planned African tour would help to inspire reconciliation and foster unity between both countries in the wake of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“It will also ensure expansion, growth and development of marketing platforms, create a larger pool of opportunity for stakeholders and create value through partnerships.
“It will further attract interest from biker groups across the continent and internationally, as it will be supported by the social media in the form of posts, images, television and video clips,” he said.
Abioye said the ride will end on the “reconciliation day’’ which will be the last day of the “Mzansi-Naija” events.
“It will be the first time that the socio-cultural platform will bring together governments, citizens and various businesses.
“It will also offer an opportunity of making concerted efforts in resolving the differences between Nigerian and South African citizens in South Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Joann Otaru, one of the two bikers in the Nigerian delegation and immediate past National President of the Bikers in Nigeria Association, said that the exercise would also promote the basic pillars of what binds both countries together.
She said that the Nigerian team supported by Swift Networks, would use the opportunity to tour various iconic geographical locations in South Africa.
