Nigerian comedian and actor, Bovi Ugboma, has shared thoughtful insights on parenting, advocating for understanding, empathy, and tailored approaches to raising children. During an interview on ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast aired on Monday, Bovi emphasized his strong stance against beating children, urging parents to reflect on their actions when disciplining their kids.
He recounted a personal experience where his son would throw things and break household items, including televisions, when upset. “I don’t advocate for beating children. You should let children be. My son dey break television for the fun of it. If he vex, he go throw stuff and break it. He got to an age, and I saw the remorse. Thank God for capacity; if I couldn’t afford another TV, then the approach would have been different. That’s why I tell people, most times when we hit kids, check: are you really trying to correct them, or are you frustrated?”
Bovi revealed that in 2021, when he shared a similar incident, it was already the third television his son had broken. Despite the frustration such situations can cause, he emphasized the importance of patience, understanding, and teaching children through empathy instead of corporal punishment.
The comedian also discussed the importance of recognizing that each child is different, criticizing the “one-size-fits-all” approach to parenting. “You can’t raise four children the same way. That’s why you see some children say, ‘I love my dad,’ and the sibling is saying, ‘I hate my dad.’ It’s because the father used the same template for all of them,” he explained. According to Bovi, parents must adjust their methods to suit each child’s personality to avoid misunderstandings and resentment.
Shifting focus to societal issues, Bovi addressed bullying in schools and expressed his opposition to the hierarchical system where older students are given authority over younger ones. He argued that such systems foster abuse and unhealthy power dynamics among children. “No child should be given authority over another child in the name of ‘senior student.’ They are children,” he said.
Bovi believes that allowing teenagers to punish their peers encourages intimidation and misuse of power, which can have damaging long-term effects. He called for a reevaluation of these systems to ensure fairness and healthier relationships among students.
Through his reflections, Bovi highlighted the importance of fostering empathy in parenting, understanding the unique needs of each child, and promoting fairness in societal systems. His thoughtful approach offers a refreshing perspective on raising children and creating healthier environments both at home and in schools.
Watch the video below..
𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐯𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐕𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫
“I don’t advocate for beating children. You should let children be. My son dey break television for the fun of it. If he… pic.twitter.com/V8WwnOMNMR
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) December 17, 2024