In a rare feat of endurance and purpose-driven adventure, 69-year-old Nigerian biker and advocate, Ibi Sofekun, popularly known as Firekiss, has completed his “Ride for the Boy Child” journey — a 99-day expedition across 40 countries in Europe and Africa to raise awareness about the mental health challenges facing young boys.

Sofekun rode into Lagos on Sunday, October 5, 2025, to a warm and emotional reception, concluding a mission that began on June 28, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland. His cross-continental expedition, themed around the message “It’s okay to not be okay,” sought to inspire global dialogue on mental health and emotional support for boys, under the initiative known as Project HELP.

Speaking on arrival at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos, Sofekun said the journey was more than a personal challenge — it was a call to society to pay closer attention to how boys are nurtured.

“The ambassador in Rabat shocked me when he said that in 2024 alone, they recovered over 10,400 bodies from the Moroccan coastline—young Africans who drowned trying to cross into Europe,” he recounted. “This is more than migration; it’s a mental issue. Too many young men believe success only exists elsewhere.”

Sofekun expressed deep concern that many of the world’s social crises — from extremism to violent crime — stem from unresolved issues among men who were once neglected boys.

“I keep asking: what kind of boys grew into the kind of men causing these problems?” he said. “We must give our boys hope and examples to follow. Men must lead with empathy, and society must give boys a reason to believe in themselves.”

He explained that Project HELP encapsulates four pillars: Hope, Encouragement, Leadership, and Purpose — each representing what he believes young boys need to thrive.

“Without being judgmental,” he added, “we must ensure that boys have something to dream about.”

Accompanying Sofekun throughout the expedition was Uchechi Deborah Uchenna, the project manager and documentarian who chronicled the ride. She said the mission was far more than an adventure story — it was a global appeal for empathy.

“This journey was never just about travel,” Uchenna said. “It was about purpose — about shining a light on the boy child and showing how one man’s vision can inspire change. When boys are silenced, men grow up broken, and humanity suffers.”

Uchenna urged Nigerians to support Firekiss’s advocacy, stressing the importance of allowing boys to express their emotions and seek help when needed.

“Let us permit our boys to feel, speak, and heal. Because when they rise, we all rise,” she said.

The Homecoming Ceremony drew a host of dignitaries, including Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper; Sen. (Dr.) Bode Olajumoke, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Boys Scouts of Lagos; and Alhaji Adebesin Olohuntoyin Oyeyemi, Lagos State Scout Commissioner, alongside family, friends, and supporters.

As Sofekun rode into Lagos amid cheers, he did so for every struggling boy — a symbolic act for a future where men can heal, lead, and live with purpose. His journey stands as a testament to the power of individual action in driving social change and advancing the global conversation on mental health.