Veteran Nigerian actress Bukky Wright has revealed that her prolonged absence from the movie industry was driven by her commitment to her children’s well-being. In a recent interview with media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Channels TV, Wright explained that she put her acting career on hold to focus on raising her children abroad, emphasizing the importance of a mother’s presence in shaping her children’s lives.
Speaking on the sacrifices she made, Wright highlighted the crucial role mothers play in their children’s development. “You know there’s a time in a woman’s life and the children’s lives where they need you more than ever. My children are abroad, so I had to leave everything to go take care of them,” she stated. She further explained that raising children in a foreign country requires personal involvement, as leaving them in the care of others could lead to disciplinary challenges.
She elaborated on this point, cautioning parents against entrusting their children to others overseas. “I’d always tell anybody, you don’t want to leave your children with anybody abroad, especially at a certain age. That’s when they’ll say, ‘You’re not my mum, you can’t talk to me like that; you’re not my dad, you can’t tell me that.’ So be there yourself,” Wright advised.
Addressing the broader sacrifices that mothers make, she pointed out that women often take on significant responsibilities, including cultural duties such as Omugwo, a traditional postpartum care practice in Nigeria. “That’s why we’re mothers. Sometimes we even have to go for Omugwo. I’ve never heard a man go for Omugwo. If it’s because of what we come back with, have you thought of what we go through?” she asked rhetorically.
Despite stepping away from the spotlight for an extended period, Wright reassured fans that she never lost her passion for acting. “I didn’t fall out of love with acting, and I haven’t done it all. There are still lots of things I’m looking forward to doing, but I had to take a break for my children,” she said. However, she confirmed her return to the industry, expressing excitement about taking on new projects.
She also reflected on the difference between the roles of mothers and fathers, citing a Yoruba saying: “‘Iya ni iya mi, Baba ni baba gbobo aye,’ which means ‘My mother is my mother, but a father can be a father to many.’” She clarified that while she respects the role of fathers, a mother’s presence is irreplaceable in a child’s life.
