In celebration of the International Day of the Boy Child, Boys Without Borders NG hosted her second edition of Ibadan Boys Conference on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
The event, themed “Charting a New Course: Inspiring Minds and Transforming Futures,” held at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, brought together over 100 boys from secondary schools and attendees across Ibadan.
The day began with an impressive robotics forklift demonstration by Folaromi Jesutofunmi, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan. The demonstration sparked excitement among the students and set the tone for a day filled with transformative learning.
John Dare Okafor, Co-founder of Boys Without Borders, delivered the welcome address, setting the purpose of the event in motion.
Mr. Ibrahim Oredola, Co-founder of SkillNG, opened the session by speaking on a topic, “Turning Skills into Superpower.” His session was interactive as it included a charade game where students guessed professions and skills being acted out. He emphasized both technical and soft skills, including emotional intelligence, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Dr. Olusola Ayoola, CEO of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN) and keynote speaker, followed with a message on remaining resilient in the face of Nigeria’s current economic realities.“Let your challenges be your stepping stone”; “It is when you dare that you succeed.” He concluded by encouraging the boys to embrace digital skills, particularly robotics and Artificial Intelligence, as tools for shaping their future.
The third speaker, Emmanuel Tope, addressed financial literacy and personal development. He urged the boys to seek digital skills, practice discipline, delay gratification, and avoid the lure of quick money but instead build values and skills that further better the society. He ended with a powerful quote:“The boy who understands value early becomes a man who commands wealth later.”
A major highlight of the conference was the Richard Ogunjimi Oratory Contest. Students from the 10 participating schools debated the topic, “The roles of mentorship in guiding and misleading young boys.” Olajuwo Ololade of Methodist Grammar School, Bodija emerged as the winner.
The day concluded with breakout sessions, where facilitators led discussions on topics such as sexual education, character development, career guidance, gender equity, stress management, and societal stereotypes, some of which were debunked. Boys were allowed and encouraged to network with their peers from other schools.
The Ibadan Boys Conference 2025 marked a significant step toward empowering the boy child, offering them practical knowledge to thrive in today’s world. The event also emphasized Boys Without Borders’(BWB) unwavering commitment to raising functional and purpose-driven men.
Sharon Makanjuola is a detail-oriented virtual assistant with a background in science and a passion for creating meaningful experiences through volunteering services and community engagement.
