Billionaire entrepreneur Cosmas Maduka has expressed concern over the parenting approach of some African families, describing certain parents as “dream killers.”
Speaking during a recent podcast interview, Maduka criticized how many African parents tend to impose their own unfulfilled ambitions on their children, often stifling their creativity and individuality in the process.
He argued that rather than nurturing a child’s unique talents and passions, some parents dictate rigid career paths, which can discourage innovation and personal growth.
Maduka emphasized the need for parents to listen more, support their children’s aspirations, and create an environment where young people can freely pursue their dreams without fear or pressure.
‘’We parents are dream killers, including me. I drove motorbike when I was 11 years. I have a child when he was 16 years he wanted to ride a bike and I said ‘you will not. you will kill yourself’.
Why do I think I had a better sense than him? My only son that drives a motorbike did that out of disobedience and today, I go out biking with him.
It is good to follow instruction but sometimes it is good to miss road. If you never miss the road, you will never discover a new road. We try to micromanage our children so much. You see that child that are born in average families where the parents have taken good care of him, always standing on the gap, not willing to take risk! That is about risk!”
