Terry G, a well-known Afrobeats artiste, has spoken about the misery of the majority of Nigerians in life and attributes it to a great extent to poor parenting and the destruction wrought by negative words at home.
In a recent post on Twitter, the colorful artiste, whose real name is Gabriel Oche Amanyi, argued that parents overlook the long-term effects of their words on their children. He insisted that tough criticisms, constant comparisons, and demeaning statements uttered during childhood usually decide how individuals perceive themselves as adults.
According to Terry G, the majority of people who grow up doubting themselves or believing that they cannot do something are simply replaying the negative messages they continually received from their parents.
“Our Nigerian parents really do many of us strong things. The point I’m making is this: when you come under my post saying you’ll never make it, that’s not really you speaking, it’s the voice of what you grew up hearing at home. When you say, ‘you can’t do this, you can’t do that,’ you’re only repeating what your father and mother told you growing up.
The musician emphasized that words spoken by parents during a child’s formative years can make or destroy confidence. He warned that if parents fail to speak positively into their children’s lives, they risk raising adults who have low self-esteem, fear, and lack of direction.
Terry G also advised Nigerian parents to be more intentional in bringing up their children with affirmations, encouragement, and support rather than criticisms and negativity.
His statements have since stirred reactions online, with many in consensus that poor parenting methods, including verbal abuse and neglect, are significant factors in societal problems with self-esteem and achievement.
