Nollywood actor Bucci Franklin has opened up about his difficult childhood, revealing how growing up without a father figure pushed him into destructive habits as a teenager.

Speaking on the WithChude podcast, Franklin explained that although his father was alive, he was absent throughout his formative years, leaving a void that shaped many of his early choices.

He praised his mother, Mrs Joy, and other single mothers for their sacrifices but stressed that raising boys without some form of male guidance is especially tough.

“As a kid, I saw my mom’s struggles. She had to work, and I had friends who influenced me. Not having a father figure is hard. For boys, especially African, Nigerian, Igbo boys, you need that male guidance. Without it, things can get rough,” he said.

Franklin admitted that, without direction, he started drinking, smoking, and chasing girls at a very young age. “Girls, cigarettes, beer… I was completely wasted sometimes,”* he confessed.

Despite the challenges, he credited his mother for keeping him grounded. “The man I am today, and will continue to be, is because of Mrs Joy,” he declared.

The actor also revealed that he once hated hearing his own name because of the pain tied to his father’s absence. However, with time, he chose forgiveness.

“My dad is good, but he was not in the picture. Now I see him for who he is, not who he was. Nobody is perfect. I don’t pray to be like him, but maybe I would have done worse if I were in his shoes.”

See video below

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chude Jideonwo (@chudeity)