Father’s Day brings with it more than just gifts and cards, it is a moment to reflect on the different types of dads that shape our lives. Some are all about the rules, others about the food, and some just make things happen in the background without saying much.
This is not about labels, just a light look at how our fathers show up. Here are eight types of dads you might recognise—and maybe spot yours among them.
The griller
This dad owns the kitchen; he’s the one behind the smoke and spice. You will catch him turning even the simplest meals to restaurant worthy meals. His children grew up with stories of “Daddy’s stew” or how no one else gets the egusi soup quite right. He may not say much, but he shows love through food. If you don’t hear “come and taste this thing,” did he really cook?
The guardian
Firm but fair. He’s the one who corrects your pronunciation, sends you long WhatsApp messages on planning your future, and reminds you to “focus.” You may not have liked it as a child, but now you quote him every other week. He is the dad who believes in structure, not chaos. The one who will call during a thunderstorm just to ask if your windows are closed. You will find him quietly watching over things—not to control, but to protect. The Guardian dad doesn’t make noise, but his presence echoes. He shows up when you have not asked, slips in money when you are broke, and gives advice you didn’t know you needed. He taught you the meaning of showing up without waiting for applause. He is the planner, the long-term thinker, the one reminding you of your NYSC posting date before you even remember to pack. His love language? Preparedness. And if you ever forget anything important, just call him, he probably has a backup plan already.
The godfather
This dad may not be loud, but he moves things. He knows someone who knows someone. He handles things with a calm that feels like power. Need NYSC redeployment? He knows a man. Need a job lead? He’s “on it.” No long talk — just results. He is not flashy, but he carries weight. He does not show off, but when things shift in your favour, you know he had a hand in it. This is the dad whose phone calls get picked up even on the first ring. The one who does not need to raise his voice, people just listen. You won’t find him arguing in public or chasing clout, but if you ever fall into trouble, his network becomes your safety net. His children grow up understanding the quiet power of influence and the strength that comes from building relationships that matter. Sometimes he is misunderstood; people think he is distant or too composed. But deep down, he isjust operating on his own frequency: measured, deliberate, and deeply protective. He may not always say “I love you,” but you’ll feel it when your problem disappears like magic.
The giver dad
This is the sacrificial dad. The one who quietly makes sure things are in place, even if it means going without. His own needs come last, not because he wants recognition, but because that is how he understands love. Whether it isyour school fees, rent top-up, or that last-minute emergency, he figures it out, often silently, without complaint. You might not remember grand speeches or father-child outings, but you remember the times he did not eat just so you could. You remember the moment he sold his phone to balance a bill. Or how he somehow always had money for your books. He may not give lectures on “hard work” or “responsibility,” but watching him hold the family together — through job loss, fuel scarcity, or school resumption — teaches more than any motivational quote. This is the dad who hustles with heart. He may be a civil servant, a driver, a technician, or a small business owner, but in his own way, he makes sure his children never truly feel lack. And often, the weight he carries does not show on his face.
Read also: 7 traits children inherit only from their fathers
The general dad
This dad ran his home like a military base. He raised his voice often. Just the sound of his car pulling into the compound was enough to send everyone scurrying into their rooms or adjusting their sitting position. “Daddy’s back” was a full alert. He believed in order. Wake up early. Greet properly. Speak clearly. Do your chores without being reminded. It was not fear he wanted to inspire — it was discipline. But as a child, it sometimes felt like both. He was not trying to be your friend; he was trying to prepare you for the real world. He might not have joined the army, but people joked that he would have made a great officer. His presence commanded respect, and his absence created a quiet gap in the daily rhythm of the house. Now, you understand. That his rigidity came from responsibility, that love, for him, was in the standards he set. You catch yourself enforcing those same rules, repeating those same sayings. And when you do, you smile — because you turned out alright.
The gist dad
This dad knows how to hold a conversation — and not just small talk. He is the one with stories that start in 1978 and somehow connect to what is happening on Twitter today. He remembers who won the 1980 Nations Cup, who sold the best akara on your street growing up, and why fuel scarcity in 2003 changed everything. From politics to pepper prices, football to folklore, he gists like it is a gift. He won’t call it “bonding,” but he is the dad who will sit with you after dinner, or while waiting out NEPA, and before you know it, you have spent two hours just talking. He does not force advice, he plants it inside stories. And long after the gist has passed, his words come back, usually just when you need them. When life gets confusing, his voice often plays in your head, not in reprimand, but in recall. He is the bridge between generations, fluent in both the world he grew up in and the one you’re navigating now. And even when you disagree, you can not say he did not make sense.
The gentle dad
This is the dad who rarely shouts. He does not need to. His presence alone commands calm, not fear. Where other fathers raise their voice, he simply raises an eyebrow, and somehow, that’s enough. He is the one who listens before reacting, who corrects with quiet firmness, and who always seems to know when you need encouragement instead of rebuke. You might not have realised it as a child, but looking back, you remember how safe his calm made everything feel. He does not speak many words, but when he does, you listen. Whether it’s a subtle nod of approval or a simple “I’m proud of you,” his words land heavy, because they are not thrown around lightly. This dad teaches that gentleness is not weakness. That being soft-spoken doesn’t mean being overlooked. His strength is steady, not showy. And it shows up in the way he makes space for others, the way he carries stress without spreading it, the way his silence often says more than a lecture ever could.
The goofy dad
He is the joker, the dancer, the dad who engages in banter with your friends, maybe even joins them for a drink or two. He is always ready to recreate a TikTok challenge with you — no hesitation, no shame. He is the one who tries to use slang from your generation, sometimes successfully, sometimes hilariously off. He also served a lot of dad’s joke. This dad does not mind looking silly — if it makes you laugh, it’s worth it. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, and that’s his superpower. Even when life gets hard, he finds a way to bring joy to the house, often at his own expense. He’s also the one who embarrasses you in public (lovingly) — dancing at weddings, or loudly shouting “that’s my baby!” at your graduation. You have rolled your eyes at him a hundred times, but looking back, those are the moments you cherish most.
