…touring 40 countries in 99 days
Ibi Sofekun, aka Firekiss, has completed his 40 countries in 99 days advocacy ride for the mental health of the Boy Child on his powerbike. Last weekend, he rode into the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos, amid cheers from family and well-wishers.
Sofekun’s mission is to shine a light on the often-overlooked emotional and psychological struggles faced by young boys and encourage a global dialogue on providing better support systems.
On June 28, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland, Sofekun traded comfort for the open road and commenced his 40 countries ride. His journey has taken him through diverse terrains and cultures, all the while carrying a singular, crucial message: “It’s okay to not be okay.”
After an epic, 99-day journey across 40 countries in Europe and Africa, the 69-year-old power bike rider, rode into Lagos, completing his ride.
His arrival was declared as a victory not just for him, but for every young boy whose mental health he is riding for.
Speaking with Guardian Angels, he said: “The journey was inspired by project Help and it’s for the mental health of the boy’s child and the problem of the world. We sit and look, many crimes are centred around men, so, the men have become the problem of the world. I know so many men doing well but the question is, which kind of boy grew into men that are doing nasty things.
“The irony of it is that a father pays particular care to bring up the girl child; nurture them to be educated, independent, then one day, he will hand her over to a boy that will treat her badly. By some chance, we have not nutured boys enough to have faith in themselves. The boys are too much in a hurry and the society put pressure on men because a man is not valued except for what he brings to the table.”
On the high point of the journey, he said: “Over 99 days, I met a lot of people, country ambassadors; ambassador in Rabat told me that on the Moroccan coastline in 2024, over 10,000 bodies were pulled out of the Mediterranean Sea. Young Africans thinking that success is only elsewhere has become a mental issue.”
