It appears that most winners of the Big Brother Naija reality show do not go on to meet their expectations and that of Nigerians on them.
Most of them do not arrive the big stage of the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The Big Brother Naija show is currently the biggest and most followed reality show in Africa.
Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, aka Phyna emerged the winner of the 2022 edition of the show and went home with a grand price of N100, 000.
The first Big Brother Naija reality show was aired on M-Net and DSTV Channel 37 from March 5 to June 4, 2006 and was won by Katung Aduwak.
It then went off-air for 11 years until it made a comeback in 2017 and since then, other winners has emerged as follows:
In 2017, Delta State born, Efe Ejeba was crowned the winner of the ‘See Gobe’ edition which premiered in January 2017 and saw 22 contestants vying for the N25 million grand prize.
The next year, the show returned on 28 January 2018 and Miracle Igbokwe from Imo state won the “Double Wahala”. edition.
Miracle competed with 20 housemates and won the N45 million cash grand prize.
The fourth season which launched on 30 June 2019 was won by Mercy Eke. The Imo State born became the first female to win the “Pepper Dem.” season.
It was also the first time the show was hosted in Nigeria and the grand prize was worth N60 million worth prizes.
Olamilekan Moshood Agbeleshe popularly known as Laycon, won the edition which premiered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This season was unique as it saw the introduction of a virtual audition for the show.
The rapper, singer and songwriter beat 20 housemates and emerged winner of the N85 million grand prize.
WhiteMoney, real name Hazel Oyeye Onou edged out the other 24 Housemates to win the N90million grand prize for the Shine Ya Eye’ edition.
The 29-year-old Entrepreneur hails from Enugu State has released some singles since after leaving the reality show despite some Nigerians wondering whether music is actually his calling.
It is actually very difficult to find a Big Brother Naija winner who has taken the centre stage in the entertainment industry be in music or in acting.
Sometimes, we do not get to hear from them anymore in just a few months after the reality and people would wonder how they have been able to put the money into use but one we never hear is that they are in the streets begging.
However, there are just a few of them who had even while in reality show, told Nigerians how they intended to spend the grand price and Mercy Eke, could be said to be in this category.
Reports has it that the former housemate has invested heavily on Real Estate.
However, a top entertainment expert, who pleaded not to be mentioned, has explained to reporters reasons behind the failure of some of these BBN winners to hit the ground running.
He indicted top officials of the show, family, friends, and the grand price themselves saying, “Well, when it comes to the grand price money or other monies won by Big Brother housemates while in the house, there are more to it than what you see.
“Sometimes, you don’t have to mount pressure on these housemates because you never know how much they ended up going home with.
“On TV, they will show them receiving N50m or more but don’t forget they’ll have to settle people before anything else. This is Nigeria so don’t imagine BBNaija would be an exemption.
“That number one, then you talk about family and friends who are already waiting for you to come out of the house to settle down.
“Thirdly, don’t forget that your standard of life and lifestyle have changed and this include the house you live in and where you live, the food you eat and the cars you drive.
“It takes a lot to maintain fame and fortune and if you’re not strong enough to manage this fund you’ll soon realise that N50m is too small.
“Now, winning the reality show does not automatically make you an actor or a singer. Producers, whether in music or movie, must see something in you before looking your way.
“And to some of them, when they release one or two songs they get discouraged and go into hiding. I don’t want to mention names, we’ve seen many of them do that. You can’t give what you don’t have.”
