Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has revealed that she once asked her son to leave her home because she wanted him to understand the importance of hard work and financial independence.
Ozokwor made the revelation during a recent interview with media personality Femi Baba, where she spoke about parenting, discipline and the dangers of raising children without exposing them to responsibility.
The actress said parents should not become so protective that they prevent their children from experiencing difficulties or learning how to provide for themselves.
According to Ozokwor, she deliberately sent her son out because she wanted him to understand that the family’s property was not automatically his inheritance.
“My house isn’t yours. Go and work for your own,” she recalled telling him.
She argued that excessive comfort can prevent children from developing the resilience and determination required to succeed independently. For Ozokwor, providing children with everything they want may appear loving but could leave them poorly prepared for adulthood.
“The fastest way to ruin a child’s life is to say you don’t want them to suffer the way you did,” she said.
The actress explained that her approach to parenting was influenced by her own experiences and her belief that discipline, responsibility and hard work are essential ingredients for raising capable adults.
Her comments have sparked renewed discussion about modern parenting, particularly the balance between protecting children and allowing them to develop independence. While parents naturally want to shield their children from hardship, Ozokwor’s position is that some challenges can provide valuable life lessons.
The revelation comes shortly after she also warned parents against excessive pampering, arguing that children should be allowed to struggle and go through the process of building themselves.
Patience Ozokwor remains one of Nollywood’s best-known veteran actresses, with a career spanning several decades. Beyond acting, she has increasingly shared views on parenting, discipline and lessons from her personal experiences.
