Nollywood actor Bucci Franklin has spoken about his early years and the challenges he faced growing up without his father.
Naijabrain reports that the actor, who featured in To Kill a Monkey, made the revelation during an interview with Chude Jideonwo on YouTube, where he recounted how his mother raised him alone.
Franklin explained that his father was alive but absent, which left his mother to shoulder the responsibility of caring for him.
He described her as hardworking and resilient, saying that raising a child as a single parent came with many difficulties.
The actor stressed that boys need father figures in their lives, even if it is through a relative who can play that role.
He said the absence of such guidance affected him as a teenager, leading him into habits such as alcohol, smoking, and chasing girls at an early age.
Despite those struggles, Franklin said he has moved past the pain of his father’s absence and now relates with him differently.
He added that forgiveness has helped him accept his father for who he is today rather than holding on to the past.
He credited his mother, Mrs. Joy, for shaping his character and helping him become the man he is today, expressing deep gratitude for her sacrifices and strength.
He said: “As a kid, I had my woman shege. It is not easy to be a single parent. My mum had to go to work. Not having a father figure is quite difficult. Maximum respect to women out there taking care of their children by themselves. But you need a man in your life. If you do not want to get married, you need a brother to play that role.
“For boys especially, you just need a father figure. I was into girls, drugs by drugs, I mean cigarettes. Drinking beer at a very young age. Coming back home completely wasted. My dad is good, but he was not in the picture. I see him now for the man he is, not the man he was. I have forgiven him. The man that I am today, and that I would continue to be, is because of Mrs Joy.”
