Nana Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo, CEO of Mikado Group of Companies, recently shared on Joy News TV’s Personality Profile with Lexis Bill how he instilled an entrepreneurial mindset in his nine children. He emphasized hands-on experience, discipline, and resilience as essential to nurturing independence and foresight, values he believes will outlast fleeting trends in the job market.
“If you are my child,” Addo explained, “after JHS, boy or girl, you sell in the street.” Unlike typical family expectations, his children were expected to participate in street-level selling of goods like second-hand shoes, dog chains, and basic consumer items. “You need to respect people. Have value for people. So go out there and do some marketing,” he shared, highlighting the importance of respect and hard work. His approach was guided by a 30-year vision, focused on what each child would become in the future.
This discipline extended even further as they entered senior high school. “When you go to secondary, senior high school, your first holidays after Form 1, boy or girl, you’ll be a seamstress or hairdresser,” he shared. By the time they reached Form 2 and Form 3, they were required to apprentice as electricians and mechanics, respectively. For Addo, this exposure to varied trades was non-negotiable. “It’s compulsory in my house,” he affirmed, underscoring that each child was expected to work, regardless of their financial status.
Addo arranged these apprenticeships personally, relying on local experts to mentor his children. He regularly visited the workshops to ensure his children were fully engaged. “I will then visit you during the time that you are with that mentor… If it’s cleaning, let them do it. If it is going to fetch water, washing the towels, please allow. And the mechanics, please allow them to be under the cars.”
Naturally, his children initially resisted. “They resisted,” he admitted with a smile. “I think it’s a very good question.” His daughters, in particular, were hesitant about training in traditionally male-dominated trades like mechanics. However, his insistence left a lasting impression. “How I wish you can have the opportunity to interview them,” he said proudly, mentioning that some had even taken to driving with the confidence of “Formula One drivers.”
Now that his children are adults, Addo’s philosophy has paid off. They’ve grown into accomplished professionals in various fields, with one daughter a pharmacist, another a medical doctor in the U.S., and a third a computer engineer. “I tell you that it has really helped them,” he reflected. “I could see the next 20, 30 years’ time entrepreneurship will be the order of the day, and these white-collar jobs would be a thing of the past.”
When asked about today’s parenting trends, Addo shared a vision of proactive parenting that supports each child’s long-term potential. He encouraged parents to “be a visionary… see what will happen the next 10, 20 years for your kids.” His advice? Don’t rely on teachers or conventional systems to shape a child’s future—embrace the role of mentor, even if it means facing criticism.
Inspiring Net 