In
Nigerian society, we have been smashed with the widespread pattern of “parents
forcing career, and occupation on their children” this practice hits over 80%
of Nigerian families.
The
singular fact that most Nigerian
children rarely becomes what they want or do what they like rather they purse
their parents stipulated vision or do what their parents want makes the entire
situation abusive and neglect.
The
author of this article is not in way trying to encourage children (young and
old) to disrespect their parents neither is he in anyway turning a blind eye to
the ever important parental contributions towards a child’s perfect choice of
career, occupation and livelihood.
Though
most times, the thoughtless expectation of most Nigerian parents make ask
myself these few questions and the answers I give to myself most often are
always hilarious. These questions include;
What will the world of music turn to if Joseph
and Katherine Jackson had forced the pop star Michael Jackson to becoming a
medical doctor? What
will the world look like if Bill Gate left College and the parents never cared
about his ambitions and said the college degree is all we want? What
would the world of boxing look like today if Mohammed Ali’s parent had forced
him into being a writer What
would have been the future of Peter and Paul Okoye (Psquare) if the parents
said it must be a university degree or I disown you both? Disposable
diaper a household name just because Marion Donovan’s parents encouraged and
supported her choice of career without forcefully influencing it.
Keenly
looking at the few illustrations/questions above you will agree with me that
there is need to educate, support and consistently observe children/youth
progress in their chosen endeavor in line with their passion and ability.
There
is a need for thoughtful shift in deciding our children’s career; he wants to
be a photographer? equip him/her to be the best, he/she wants to be a teacher
show him/her the ideals of the occupation relatively early..
Note that the word child/children are
referred to young adults age 11 and above
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