MOST BIG BROTHER NAIJA WINNERS FALL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS, ACCORDING TO AN EXPERT

The majority of them never make it to the big stage of Nigeria's entertainment industry.

Big Brother Naija is currently Africa's most popular and watched reality show.

Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, aka Phyna, was crowned the winner of the 2022 edition of the show and received N100,000.

Katung Aduwak won the first Big Brother Naija reality show, which aired on M-Net and DSTV Channel 37 from March 5 to June 4, 2006.

It then went off the air for 11 years before returning in 2017, and since then, other winners have emerged as follows:

Efe Ejeba, a Delta State native, was crowned the winner of the 'See Gobe' edition in 2017, which premiered in January 2017 and featured 22 contestants vying for the N25 million grand prize.

The following year, on 28 January 2018, the show returned, and Miracle Igbokwe from Imo state won the "Double Wahala." edition.

Miracle beat out 20 other housemates to win the N45 million cash grand prize.

Mercy Eke won the fourth season, which began on June 30, 2019. The Imo State native became the first female to win the season of "Pepper Dem."

It was also the first time the show had been held in Nigeria, and the grand prize was worth N60 million.

Laycon, Olamilekan Moshood Agbeleshe, won the edition, which debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This season was notable for the addition of a virtual audition for the show.

The rapper, singer, and songwriter defeated 20 other housemates to win the N85 million grand prize.

WhiteMoney, real name Hazel Oyeye Onou, beat out the other 24 Housemates to take home the N90 million grand prize in the Shine Ya Eye' edition.

However, only a few of them have told Nigerians how they intend to spend the grand prize while still on the show, and Mercy Eke falls into this category.

According to reports, the former housemate has made significant investments in real estate.

However, a top entertainment expert, who requested anonymity, has explained why some of these BBN winners failed to hit the ground running.

He charged top show officials, family, friends, and the grand prize itself, saying, "There is more to the grand prize money or other monies won by Big Brother housemates while in the house than what you see.

Despite some Nigerians questioning whether music is truly his calling, the 29-year-old Entrepreneur from Enugu State has released a few singles since leaving the reality show.

It is actually difficult to find a Big Brother Naija winner who has risen to prominence in the entertainment industry, whether in music or acting.

Sometimes we don't hear from them for a few months after the reality, and people wonder how they were able to put the money to use, but one thing we never hear is that they are begging on the streets.

"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."