69-Year-Old Nigerian Biker Rides Across 40 Countries in 99 Days for Boy Child Mental Health

A 69-year-old Nigerian adventurer, Ibi Sofekun, has completed a 99-day motorbike journey across 40 countries to raise global awareness about the mental health of the boy child.

Speaking at a reception in Lagos on Sunday, Sofekun explained that his transcontinental expedition, spanning Europe and Africa, was part of his personal initiative tagged Project Help, aimed at sparking conversations on the emotional well-being of young boys.

“It is not just an adventure because I feel like riding. My theme is called Project Help. We need to start paying attention to the mental health of the boy child. It is believed that the boy child is strong and secure, but he has his pains too. He cries and moves on. But if he doesn’t get the opportunity to cry and heal, he can’t have an active future,” he said.

He warned that ignoring boys’ emotional struggles could have long-term societal consequences, citing issues such as terrorism, cultism, violence, and radicalisation as by-products of neglected mental health.

“If we look at some of the problems of the world, they emanate from the actions of boys who have become men with the wrong perceptions,” Sofekun noted.

Beyond his advocacy, Sofekun said the trip also aimed to project Nigeria positively on the global stage, showing that Nigerians can achieve greatness without relocating abroad.

He urged government, parents, educators, and other stakeholders to prioritise the mental well-being of boys, stressing that raising emotionally resilient young men would translate into safer and more productive societies.

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