In a powerful convergence of entertainment icons and youth advocates, the BoyCode Conference 2025 delivered transformative insights on masculinity, mentorship, and breaking free from generational limitations.
The event, held in Lagos, brought together renowned music producer Olumide Ogunade (ID Cabasa) and legendary comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome (Ali Baba) to address the systemic challenges facing young African men.
ID Cabasa 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. He shared his own struggle with water phobia, stemming from witnessing two cousins drown, and how this nearly prevented his children from learning to swim.
“I had to start correcting myself, because I was correcting them for what I don’t like, not for what is wrong,” Cabasa reflected. “You might need to learn, your generation might need to learn to know what they are correcting you from.”
In a groundbreaking discussion on masculinity, 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.
Ali Baba, with nearly four decades in comedy, emphasized the critical role of information in achieving success. “Right information works every time,” he declared, using the biblical story of Moses to illustrate strategic thinking and market awareness.
The comedy legend stressed that success requires understanding your environment, target audience, and timing. “If she did not know or she did not have information that then teaches how to know, she will not know that the princess has a bath there,” he said, referencing Moses’ mother’s strategic planning.
Both speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration over competition. Ali Baba challenged the audience’s passion levels, noting that young people often show more enthusiasm for football teams than their own financial goals. “When I said, who believes in Arsenal? One guy stood up there like this. When I said, who wants to be a billionaire? He was like, which one pays you better?”
He advocated for building genuine relationships with clients and colleagues, transforming transactional interactions into lasting partnerships that fuel long-term success.
Conference convener Precious Eniayekan positioned the event as more than a gathering, calling it “a seminal moment in our continent’s story.” She emphasized that BoyCode represents a systematic approach to addressing the neglect of young African men.
“This conference convenes innovators, thinkers, and disruptors. All ambassadors of a new code,” Eniayekan declared. “We believe that African boys, when empowered, mentored, and anchored by purpose, can redefine masculinity, reshape legacy, and lead with empathy and brilliance.”
Launched in 2021 under The Stellar Initiative, BoyCode operates as a comprehensive development architecture addressing education, mental wellness, digital capacity, and civic responsibility. The program specifically targets boys from underserved communities, offering structured pathways to purpose-driven adulthood.
“Boys are often the most visible risk group, yet the least served,” the program documentation notes. “Where systems fail to educate, equip, or guide them, the costs are generational.”
ID Cabasa’s most profound message centered on identity discovery beyond external accomplishments. “It is not what you are doing that is your purpose. It is why you are doing it,” he emphasized. “Your purpose to find it is not hard. You have to find your identity first.”
He encouraged young men to define themselves not by their achievements or experiences, but by their spiritual connection and inherent potential. “Your greatest potential is still a mystery, even to you,” he reminded the audience.
The conference concluded with a clear mandate for attendees to implement the principles shared. Ali Baba provided participants with a comprehensive framework covering goals, environment, friends, information, mentorship, platforms, health, networking, lifestyle, finances, and self-improvement.
“Everything that you have written here, everything that you would have been taught today, everything is here,” he told the young men. “All you need to do is go find a way and make this bigger or frame it and put it somewhere and every day look at it and see how much of it you are achieving.”
As Africa continues to grapple with youth unemployment, social challenges, and cultural transitions, the BoyCode Conference 2025 offered a blueprint for transforming young men into leaders who can drive positive change across the continent. The event’s emphasis on emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and collaborative success represents a significant shift in how African societies approach male development.
The conference’s impact extends beyond the immediate attendees, as participants are expected to become ambassadors of this new masculine paradigm in their communities, potentially influencing thousands of other young men across Nigeria and beyond.