Doctor Zo has warned Nigerian parents against sending their children to Canada without proper supervision, saying the absence of parental guidance and the easy access to cannabis are contributing to drug use and psychological challenges among some students studying abroad.
Speaking in a video shared on X, Doctor Zo recounted the story of a young Nigerian student in Canada as he urged parents to remain actively involved in their children’s lives instead of limiting their role to financial support.
According to him, many parents believe sending money is enough after enrolling their children in universities overseas.
“This is a story of a young Nigerian boy in Canada obviously, he is psychotic, got some mental health issues, And this is the story of lots of kids in the university from Africa. There is this thing with African parents now: because they have money, they just bring kids here, without any guidance, or anyone looking after them,” he said.
“Believe me most of them do drugs. Remember in Canada, cannabis is legalized. And they cause some issues like psychological behavior to your brain.”
While stressing that there is nothing inherently wrong with sending children to Canada for education, he said parents must ensure they have trusted guardians who can monitor their welfare.
“There is nothing wrong with bringing kids to Canada but you must have someone looking after them, they must have a guardian check on them.”
Drawing from his personal experience, Doctor Zo said parenting remains challenging even for families living together in Canada.
“I and my wife live here in Canada, we have 3 kids and it is still difficult to speak to them, my wife speaks to them almost everyday to check on them. How much more you being far away in Africa trying to keep tabs with them.”
He said the story of the unnamed Nigerian student should serve as a reminder to parents that regular communication, supervision and guidance remain essential for children studying abroad, regardless of the financial support they receive.
