By LAWAL TAOFEEK

The Patron of Equity Cycling Association, Kebbi chapter, Mr Abubakar Bagudu, says Bello Muhammad’s Guinness recognition will inspire youths.

He said the recognition of the association’s member by Guinness World Records would motivate more youths to excel in their chosen careers.

Bagudu stated this on Wednesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi appreciated Bello for his world record recognition.

NAN reports that Muhammad was recognised by Guinness World Records for riding the tallest bicycle unsupported, measuring 2.9 metres (9 feet 5 inches).

Speaking on their member’s achievement, Bagudu explained that Muhammad had attained a record that nobody in the state had in the past.

“To have someone enlisted into the Guinness World Records means a lot. It shows that such a person has a peculiar record nobody has, similar to Bello Muhammad.

“He is a young cyclist who developed interest in bicycle repairs. He continued as a bicycle mechanic and eventually invented the tallest bicycle and he has the ability to mount it, ride it without support.

“He can also disembark without support. He personally constructed it, has the ability to mount it and disembark without support. And that is why Guinness World Records recognised him and gave him the certificate.”

Bagudu said there were thousands of youths who were independent entrepreneurs, innovators and fabricators waiting to be motivated.

“We are appealing to the government to create initiatives to support young entrepreneurs, young innovators, so that they can become global persons like Bello Muhammad.

“Bello is now a world player. He has gained world recognition and has more than three million followers on Facebook. So, it is a feat that nobody in Kebbi has attained. So, I believe the sky is his limit,” he said.

Bagudu explained that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development had been of great pillar to the association, especially in the areas of sponsoring their members to both national and international competitions.

“The Ministry has been sponsoring our members to major tournaments across Nigeria. Even at the last Argungu Fishing Festival, Bello won the first position in the bicycle race.

“And this is significant that the government is supporting us and encouraging us. Like the governor says, sports development is essential.

“We want the government to continue to patronise young entrepreneurs so that they could be showcasing their talents at the national and global levels and bring fortunes and glories to Kebbi,” he said.

Speaking with NAN, Bello Muhammad explained that it took him two months to manually construct the tallest bicycle that had now made him famous in the world.

Muhammad explained that after completing the bicycle, he began to move around with it and luckily enough, it caught the attention of people.

He stated that he didn’t even know how Guinness World Records got the information that he had built the tallest bicycle, and to his greatest surprise, he was selected for the world record and was given a certificate of confirmation.

Muhammad said that though there was no financial attachment to the world record, he and his entire family were pleased with it.

He added that his family were feeling honoured because it afforded him the opportunity to meet influential people whom ordinarily he could not reach.