Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has urged parents to rethink how they raise their children, particularly when it comes to protecting them from every form of difficulty.
The actress said children need to experience manageable challenges while growing up so they can develop independence, resilience and an appreciation for hard work.
Speaking during an interview with Femi Babs TV, Ozokwor distinguished between deliberately subjecting children to hardship and allowing them to work through normal challenges.
“I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is allow them to struggle. Go through the process,” she said.
According to the actress, parents sometimes make the mistake of trying to give their children a life completely free from the difficulties they experienced themselves.
She argued that although the intention may be to provide a better life for their children, excessive protection could make it difficult for them to understand the effort required to achieve and maintain success.
Ozokwor particularly addressed parents from wealthy families, saying children who inherit substantial property without understanding how it was acquired may fail to appreciate its value.
She illustrated this with the example of parents who own houses in different cities, noting that their children may see the properties as automatic entitlements rather than the result of years of sacrifice.
The actress also drew from her personal experience, recalling that she sold buns and prepared chicken for sale at movie locations and audition venues during the early stages of her career. She said the money helped her cover transportation costs.
Ozokwor believes such experiences helped shape her understanding of perseverance and responsibility.
Her comments have generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians supporting her argument that children should learn responsibility, while others questioned whether struggle is necessary for every child to become successful.
Patience Ozokwor remains one of Nollywood’s veteran stars, having built a long career in Nigerian film and becoming widely recognised for her memorable roles.
