Entertainment

Mama G Advises Parents: Don’t Shield Children from Life’s Struggles

Published

1 month ago

September 3, 2026

Mama G Advises Parents: Don’t Shield Children from Life’s Struggles

Veteran Nollywood actress Mama G recalls selling buns and chicken to survive before stardom, warns parents against over-pampering children.

Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has urged parents to resist the temptation to make life completely comfortable for their children, arguing that some struggle can prepare them for adulthood. Ozokwor said children who grow up without understanding the effort required to provide basic comforts may struggle to appreciate or sustain what their parents worked hard to build. “When you say, ‘I don’t want my children to suffer what I suffered when I was growing up,’ okay, that’s the best way to destroy your children,” she said. “I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is allow them to struggle. Go through the process.” The actress spoke in an interview with Femi Bassey TV on YouTube, shared on Wednesday, September 1, 2026. Reflecting on the difficult experiences that shaped her own journey to success, Ozokwor said the lesson was not simply about enduring hardship but learning responsibility through the process of working for what one wants.

She recalled that before becoming established in Nollywood, she sold food at movie locations and audition venues to raise money for transportation. “There was a time I was frying buns. When I first came into the industry, I would prepare chicken and dress it well. I would prepare buns for anyone you want to buy them.” According to her, the small-scale food business became one of the ways she supported herself as she pursued opportunities in the movie industry. She said she would take the food to audition places, where people would buy from her, and she would save the proceeds to cover her transportation and other expenses. The actress said her willingness to work and fend for herself was part of the resilience she developed from a young age. “I really struggled to get to where I am today. It wasn’t flowery; it wasn’t an easy thing. My life is full of spirituality, deep prayer. When others are sleeping, I am praying,” she said.

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Ozokwor also spoke about the sacrifices she made during her marriage, explaining that she never pressured her husband to provide the kind of lifestyle she saw other women enjoying. “Some women, when they get married, they tell their husbands, ‘This one bought a car for his wife, this one bought a house for his wife. What are you not doing?'” she said. According to the actress, she understood her husband and chose to work with what they had rather than compare him with other men. “I didn’t wait for my husband. I knew the kind of person he was. I studied my husband. I buttoned up and tightened my belt, and I struggled.” The situation became even more challenging when her husband battled serious health problems for several years. “Incidentally, he was sick for so many years. It was a horrible sickness — diabetes and hypertension together — and it was a struggle.” At a time, her children also grew up and began helping her run the household, which she believes helped shape them into the responsible adults they are today.

Using her personal experience, Ozokwor urged parents to resist the temptation to make life completely comfortable for their children, arguing that some struggle can prepare them for adulthood. She said children who grow up without understanding the effort required to provide basic comforts may struggle to appreciate or sustain what their parents worked hard to build. “When you say, ‘I don’t want my children to suffer what I suffered when I was growing up,’ okay, that’s the best way to destroy your children,” she said. “I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is allow them to struggle. Go through the process.” The actress said she deliberately ensured that her children also understood that comfort comes with responsibility and that family wealth should not become an excuse for laziness. She recalled that three of her sons helped with construction work while they were university students, stressing that she wanted them to understand the effort involved in creating the life they enjoyed. “I don’t say that your children will go through all the pains you went through, but let them go through little pains. Then they will know that it is not easy to make,” she said.

Ozokwor further warned parents against giving their children everything without teaching them how to preserve, multiply and work for what they receive. “But when you pamper them, they don’t come out to be anything,” she said. “Don’t get this on a platter of gold. It’s not easy. Your father built three houses, four houses and you think you can balance on eating it.” She also spoke about family wealth, saying children should not simply expect to inherit everything their parents worked for. “Keep the things that you have and let them know that you go get yours, this is mine,” she added. The actress revealed that she applied the same approach to her own son, telling him to work for his own home instead of assuming that her house belonged to him. “I told my son, my house isn’t yours, go and work for your own,” she said. Ozokwor said the lessons her children learned from watching her struggle have helped them become self-reliant, adding that they are now comfortable because they understand the sacrifices that went into building the family’s success. “My children know the pains of making life better and that’s why they are all comfortable now, struggling on their own,” she said.

Mama G Advises Parents: Don’t Shield Children from Life’s Struggles

Entertainment

Temi Nkem Wins N160m BBNaija Season 11 Grand Prize

Published

23 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Temi Nkem Wins N160m BBNaija Season 11 Grand Prize

Temi Nkem has emerged as the winner of Big Brother Naija Season 11, taking the N160 million grand prize at the grand finale of the reality television show.

Nkem was crowned winner of the “Show Ya Sef” edition on Sunday, October 4, 2026, after 70 days in the BBNaija house.

The 21-year-old, whose real name is Temitope Chigbue, secured 25.87 per cent of the final votes to finish ahead of Aikou, who polled 23.68 per cent and emerged as the first runner-up. Sheba finished in third place with 9.80 per cent of the votes.

The finale brought the competition among the remaining housemates to an end after a season that featured weekly tasks, nominations, evictions and several twists.

The BBNaija Season 11 winner will receive a prize package valued at N160 million, comprising N90 million in cash, a brand-new SUV and other sponsored prizes.

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The cash component was adjusted from the initially announced N100 million after N10 million was allocated to the season’s Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW) prize fund.

Nkem’s victory also makes her the fifth female winner in BBNaija history, following previous female champions Mercy Eke, Phyna, Ilebaye and Imisi.

The season began on July 26 with 24 housemates competing for the grand prize. The finale eventually narrowed the field to nine finalists before the final positions were determined through viewers’ votes.

During the live finale, Aikou was announced as the first runner-up, while Sheba finished as the second runner-up.

The finale also featured performances by Nigerian singers Teni and Oshamo and was hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

With her victory, Temi Nkem succeeds Imisi, the winner of BBNaija Season 10, as the latest champion of the popular Nigerian reality television franchise.

Temi Nkem Wins N160m BBNaija Season 11 Grand Prize

Entertainment

‘Pick A Date’ — Tiwa Savage Accepts Teni’s Boxing Challenge

Published

2 days ago

October 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Teni Calls Out Tiwa Savage for Boxing Fight, Gets Bold Response

‘Pick A Date’ — Tiwa Savage Accepts Teni’s Boxing Challenge

Nigerian music stars Tiwa Savage and Teni have sparked excitement online after exchanging a playful boxing challenge, with Tiwa responding to Teni’s call-out by telling her to “Pick a date.”

The exchange began after Teni challenged Tiwa Savage to a boxing bout in a social media video while discussing the wealth and lifestyles of some Nigerian entertainers.

Teni jokingly called out Tiwa and proposed a multi-billion-naira purse for the potential showdown, saying she was ready to step into the ring with the award-winning singer.

At one point, Teni mentioned ₦1.5 billion while discussing the proposed fight and joking about whether the money could be enough to purchase a Bugatti. She also made another reference to ₦3 billion in a subsequent social media post, leading to differing reports about the amount attached to the challenge.

Teni further joked that she would defeat Tiwa in the ring before performing Tiwa’s hit song “My Darling” for her afterwards.

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Tiwa responded to the challenge in the comments section with three words: “Pick a date.”

The brief response quickly went viral, with fans interpreting it as Tiwa accepting the proposed Teni vs Tiwa Savage boxing match.

However, there is currently no official confirmation that the bout has been organised. No fight date, venue, promoter, contract, rules or official purse has been announced by either artiste or a recognised boxing promoter.

The reported financial figures should therefore not be treated as an agreed fight purse. They originated from Teni’s playful social media challenge rather than an announced professional boxing deal.

The exchange comes at a time when celebrity boxing in Nigeria is attracting growing public attention, with entertainers and reality TV personalities increasingly participating in exhibition bouts.

Recent events have featured celebrities including Phyna, Nkechi Blessing, Carter Efe and Speed Darlington, helping to generate interest in entertainment-driven boxing events.

Phyna recently defeated actress Nkechi Blessing by knockout in a celebrity boxing event in Lagos organised under the Chaos in the Ring series.

The growing popularity of such events has created a new crossover between Nigeria’s entertainment and boxing industries, with celebrity rivalries increasingly being turned into sporting spectacles.

For now, however, the proposed Teni and Tiwa Savage boxing bout remains a social media challenge. Tiwa’s “Pick a date” response has nevertheless left fans waiting to see whether the playful exchange will eventually turn into an actual celebrity boxing event.

‘Pick A Date’ — Tiwa Savage Accepts Teni’s Boxing Challenge

Entertainment

“Sometimes, I Wonder Why I Married My Husband” — Omotola

Published

2 days ago

October 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Captain Matthew Ekeinde

“Sometimes, I Wonder Why I Married My Husband” — Omotola

Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has opened up about the realities of her 30-year marriage, admitting that there are moments when she wonders why she chose her husband, Captain Matthew Ekeinde.

The actress made the disclosure during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where she discussed love, marriage, friendship and the challenges involved in sustaining a long-term relationship.

Omotola explained that marriage does not mean feeling romantic love for one’s partner every single day, adding that her husband understands the different emotions that can arise in a long-term relationship.

“My husband knows that I don’t love him all the time,” she said.

The actress also spoke candidly about moments when she notices other attractive men and jokingly questions her choice of husband.

“There are days that I’d see fantabulous guys, and I’d be like, I picked this one over you?” she said.

However, Omotola stressed that such moments do not mean that her marriage is troubled. Instead, she described her relationship with Matthew as a partnership built on commitment, understanding and the freedom for both individuals to remain themselves.

“Our marriage is not that serious. We’re partners,” she said.

The actress said she and her husband have also learned to acknowledge their imperfections instead of pretending that their relationship is always perfect.

According to her, open communication and honesty have helped them navigate disagreements and the changing emotions that come with a long-term marriage.

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Omotola has previously maintained that divorce is not an option for her, while also acknowledging that every couple has to make decisions based on their individual circumstances.

She and Matthew married on March 23, 1996, and marked their 30th wedding anniversary in March 2026.

The couple have four children and have remained together through Omotola’s successful acting career and Matthew’s career as an airline pilot.

The actress has previously credited her husband’s selflessness, trust and willingness to support her career among the factors that have helped sustain their relationship.

Her latest comments have generated conversations about the realities of long-term relationships, particularly the distinction between romantic feelings and the commitment required to maintain a marriage over several decades.

Omotola’s remarks suggest that, for her, a lasting marriage is not necessarily about experiencing intense romantic feelings every day but about choosing partnership, communication and commitment even when emotions fluctuate.