“Maximum Respect To Single Mothers, But You Need A Father Figure” — Bucci Franklin Opens Up About Growing Up Without His Dad (VIDEO)

Nollywood actor Bucci Franklin has shared how growing up without a father in his life shaped his journey and influenced the choices he made as a teenager.

In a candid conversation on the WithChude podcast, Franklin revealed that although his father was alive, he was completely absent from his upbringing. This absence, he said, left him vulnerable to negative influences during his formative years.

Franklin paid tribute to his mother, acknowledging the challenges she faced as a single parent. He expressed “maximum respect” for all single mothers while emphasizing the importance of a male figure in a boy’s life.

“As a kid, I had my woman shege. Like I said, it is not easy to be a single parent. She had to go to work. I had mates. Not having a father figure is quite difficult,” Franklin said.

He added, “Maximum respect to other women out there taking care of their children by themselves. You need a man in your life. If you do not want to get married, you need a brother to take your life. You just need a father figure for those boys.

“It is easy for girls as a mother. But for a boy, an African boy, a Nigerian boy, an Igbo boy… it is not easy.

“As a teenager listening right now, look for a role model, not for himself, the society, and I do not mean thieves, but someone of a father figure. The man that I am today, and that I would continue to be, is because of Mrs Joy.”

Franklin admitted that the lack of a father figure exposed him to the wrong crowd, leading to underage drinking, smoking, and early involvement in relationships and other risky behaviors.

“(I was into) girls. Drugs. And by drugs, I am saying cigarettes. Drinking beer at a very young age. Coming back completely wasted,” he confessed.

Reflecting on his father, Franklin said he has come to terms with the past. “My dad is good, but he was not in the picture. Now I see him for the man that he is, not for the man that he was. And I have also forgiven him. Nobody is perfect. I do not pray to be such a man, but maybe I would have done worse if I were in his shoes.

“He never told me (why he was absent). Frankly enough, I do not care. I just honour him for the human being that he is. Thank you for not using a condom or jerking me off.

“As a teenager, I did not want to hear anything about him. I went to school and came out. I started working.”