The 2025 edition of the BoyCode Conference has once again proved that the boy child needs mentoring, and that was addressed as thousands of boys hit The Stable, Union Bank Sports Centre, Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos, on June 14 to learn at the feet of elders.
In partnership with Union Bank, Sunbeth, Vesti and Lafarge, the conference also drew together a host of prominent leaders, creatives, and thinkers who united in one message: empowering the boy child is vital to building a more balanced, compassionate, and prosperous society.
The conference, convened by Precious Eniayekan, brought together an esteemed lineup of speakers, including comedy legend Ali Baba, renowned music producer ID Cabasa, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, and thought leaders such as Olakunle Soriyan, John Obidi, Ayo Bankole Akintujoye, David Aliu, Eric Gugua, and Omoruyi Edoigiawerie.
In her welcome address, Eniayekan described the BoyCode Conference as a transformative movement aimed at redefining masculinity and reshaping narratives around the boy child in Africa.
“The BoyCode Conference isn’t just a gathering; it is a seminal moment in our continent’s story,” Precious stated.
“We convene today because we believe that African boys, when empowered, mentored, and anchored by purpose, can redefine masculinity, reshape legacy, and lead with empathy and brilliance.”
Delivering one of the most captivating speeches of the day, Ali Baba challenged the young men in attendance to embrace responsibility, personal growth, and value-driven living.
“Every boy must be a man. If you fail to be a man, you are less than a man,” he said.
Ali Baba highlighted essential qualities for successful manhood, listing goals, education, technology, mentorship, health, relationships, information, and self-improvement as foundational pillars.
He urged the youth to embrace daily personal development and to leverage every lesson learned at the conference.
“Everything you’ve learned here today, put it on your wall. Look at it every day. Measure your growth with it,” he advised.
“And remember, every client you meet should become a friend, that’s how you do better business.”
In a moving keynote, Mobolaji Ogunlende, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, emphasized the often-overlooked emotional burdens faced by boys in society.
He challenged long-held cultural norms that discourage boys from expressing vulnerability.
“Society makes us think that because we are men, we should not cry,” Ogunlende said. “A lot of boys are suffering from mental health issues, but we don’t know, because they can’t cry.”
Ogunlende pointed out how harmful stereotypes, such as toxic masculinity, place pressure on boys to suppress their emotions, leading to mental health challenges and, in some cases, poor life choices such as fraud or crime.
“By giving a voice to the boy child, we can challenge harmful stereotypes and create space for boys to express themselves authentically,” he added.
He advocated for a holistic support system that encourages emotional intelligence, positive role models, inclusive education, and empathetic parenting as means to empower boys to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
ID Cabasa, on his part, delivered a raw and introspective keynote that challenged conventional wisdom about intergenerational learning.
“Most of us, what we need to be creative have been beaten out of our lives, while we are growing,” he told the packed audience. “So most of the things we are passing to the next generation might not be useful to them.”
The acclaimed producer, known for his work with top Nigerian artists, drew from personal experience to illustrate how trauma can inadvertently shape parenting decisions.
In a groundbreaking discussion on masculinity, ID Cabasa redefined ego not as toxic masculinity, but as a coping mechanism for insecurity. “Ego is anytime anything is going to expose that thing that I’m insecure about,” he explained. “It’s actually a way for you to hide the many, many cravings that you have.”
He challenged young men to embrace vulnerability, questioning societal norms that prevent men from expressing emotions or showing affection. “Where did we learn that men should not hug themselves?” he asked, encouraging the audience to examine unconscious biases about masculine behavior.
Other speakers echoed similar sentiments, focusing on the need for mentorship, leadership, self-awareness, and societal reform in how young boys are nurtured across the continent.
From entrepreneurship to mental health, each presentation reinforced the core message that empowered boys become responsible, emotionally balanced, and visionary men.
The BoyCode Conference 2025 concluded with a renewed call to action: for educators, parents, governments, and communities to collaborate in nurturing a generation of emotionally intelligent, purpose-driven young men.
As Eniayekan put it, “This is more than a conference, it is a blueprint for change.”
NB: The conference can be watched here.
