In a moment of triumph and tears, Ibi Sofekun, fondly known as Firekiss, roared into Lagos on his power bike after completing a breathtaking 99-day ride across 40 countries, a solo odyssey that began in Dublin, Ireland, and ended on the shores of home. At 69, this Nigerian adventurer has become a global symbol of courage, compassion, and conviction.
Ibi Sofekun
His mission, aptly titled “Ride for the Boy Child,” was no joyride. It was an act of advocacy, a moving call to confront one of society’s most overlooked crises: the mental health of young boys. Through blistering heat, pouring rain, and countless border crossings, Sofekun carried a message that echoed across continents: “It’s okay not to be okay.”
“I met boys who dream with broken hearts,” he told journalists at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture, Onikan, where he was received by scouts, dignitaries, and admirers. “In Morocco, I was told that over 10,430 bodies were pulled from the Mediterranean in one year, young Africans chasing hope across the sea. That broke me. Success should not be a death sentence.”
His initiative, Project HELP, is a blueprint for healing:
• H – Give boys Hope
• E – Encourage them to believe in tomorrow
• L – Leaders must lead by example
• P – Provide purpose and possibility
“The problems of our world, crime, extremism, violence, they all start from broken boys who grow into angry men,” Sofekun said. “If we want peace, we must raise boys with love, not fear.”
Ibi Sofekun
Ibi Sofekun
Ibi Sofekun
Throughout his journey, Sofekun drew support from ordinary citizens, border guards, and bike enthusiasts who were moved by his humility and purpose. His story was documented by Uchechi Deborah Uchenna, who described it as “a pilgrimage of hope.”
“This wasn’t just travel,” Uchenna said. “It was therapy in motion — a reminder that when we silence our boys, men grow broken, and humanity pays the price. Firekiss rode for every boy still trying to find his voice.”
His Lagos homecoming drew figures like Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, and Bode Olajumoke, chairman of the Lagos Scouts Council, who hailed Sofekun’s bravery as “a national inspiration.”
As he dismounted his bike, weary, bearded, and smiling, Sofekun lifted his helmet and whispered, “This is for every boy who thought he wasn’t enough.”
His journey reminds us that advocacy doesn’t always happen in suits and conferences. Sometimes, it happens on two wheels, thundering across nations, fueled by love and purpose.
Because when boys heal, the world begins to heal too.
