Big Brother Naija has been described as the most-watched Nigerian reality show by pundits. The show commenced in 2006 and has been able to fascinate, entertain, and equally infuriate audiences across the country and outside the shores of Nigeria for various reasons.
The show is renowned for the controversy and drama that comes with it; it is known that the contestants are responsible for instigating conundrums while the viewers take to social media to stoke the flame. Some contestants become celebrities immediately after the show concludes, meanwhile some fade away before the conclusion of the calendar year.
It is important to note that this article isn’t about those who fell off the face of the earth despite the existence of social media or the light shed upon them by Big Brother Naija organizers, instead, it is written to disclose the success that at least ten of the ex-contestants have been able to achieve.
We would review the number of followers that they have been able to garner (specifically on the social media page- Instagram) and the projects that they are handling in their respective careers.
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The objective of the Big Brother Naija show is to shed light upon talents and their skill sets, to propel them into superstardom and the next level of their respective careers. While some go ahead and achieve mainstream success, others peak in Big Brother’s house and never achieve the celebrity status that they initially aimed for.
Here are the 10 former contestants who have been able to achieve mainstream success:
Ebuka Obi-uchendu (BBNaija, 2006)
The list would kick off with the face of the brand, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, who has successfully anchored the program following the reintroduction of BBNaija in 2017.
It would be interesting to note that Ebuka was a contestant on the inaugural edition of the show in 2006; he didn’t emerge winner of that edition, but he has since become the most influential celebrities from the show, garnering almost 5 million followers on the social media platform, Instagram.
Mercy Eke (BBNaija Pepper Dem, 2019)
In 2019, Mercy Eke made history when she became the first female contestant to win the Big Brother Naija competition. She featured in the BBNaija Pepper Dem edition, where she established her own fanbase dubbed the Mercenaries.
Herself and Tacha Akide formed one of the fiercest rivalries in Big Brother Naija history. It was their feud that led to the disqualification of Tacha, another strong contender from the show.
Since leaving the reality show, Eke has become a brand influencer, actress, and has garnered almost five million followers on Instagram.
More Superstars…
Ozoemena (BBNaija Lockdown, 2020)
When Ozo first entered the Big Brother Naija competition in 2020, he was the most talked-about contestant due to his physical appearance.
He was lauded predominantly due to his light complexion, intelligence, and aura, unfortunately, he was quickly trolled by netizens following the unrequited pursuit of his love interest, Nengi. Upon leaving the house, Ozo had to quickly reclaim his integrity and reputation as an astute and proactive man.
With 1.5 million followers on Instagram, Ozo is one of the leading ex-BBNaija contestants in both sports and entertainment.
Erica Nlewedim (BBNaija Lockdown, 2020)
Although Erica was unceremoniously disqualified from the 2020 BBNaija Lockdown house, she has remained the heartrob of several Big Brother Naija fans across the globe. Garnering 3.2 million followers on Instagram, her face has appeared in numerous Nollywood movies. Additionally, she is a skincare expert and a beautician.
Katung Aduwak (BBNaija 2006)
It is important to note that Katung Aduwak won the inaugural Big Brother Naija edition. He was in the house alongside the current show anchor, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, and Nollywood actor, Gideon Okeke.
After the reality TV show, Aduwak proceeded to New York to further his education at the Digital Film Academy, graduating with a directorial degree, and went into filmmaking.
Katung’s debut film Heaven’s Hell was released in May 2019. The movie clips were shot in 2012 by One O Eight Media, partnering with BGL and Hashtag Media House, and starred Nollywood actors and actresses and Nigerian singer Waje.
In 2020, Aduwak directed a short film exposing the conflict between African Americans and the African diaspora, titled Not Supposed to be Here.
Bisola Aiyeola (BBNaija Gobe, 2017)
A natural-born entertainer, Bisola finished as the runner-up of the 2017 BBNaija Gobe edition.
Since her time on the show, she has made a name for herself as a talented actress, singer, and TV presenter. Bisola’s acting career flourished, earning her recognition, including a Trailblazer Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
She also launched a skincare line in 2023, ‘Brown Girls Magic’, which has been doing relatively well since its launch. Her tremendous success in the media and entertainment industry makes her one of BBNaija’s finest success stories.
Laycon (BBNaija Lockdown, 2020)
Show me a man who is small but mighty then i’ll show you, Laycon. In 2020, Laycon whose real name is Olamilekan Massoud Al-Khalifah Agbeleshebioba stunned everyone when he became the winner of that edition against all odds.
Following his success in the house, he was named the youth ambassador of Ogun state in October 2020. He has garnered over 3.3 million followers on Instagram and he has continued to drop impeccable songs for his audience.
Tacha Akide (BBNaija Pepper Dem, 2019)
Anita Natacha Akide, who is better known as Tacha participated in Big Brother Naija (season 4).
Tacha’s participation in the reality show ended sadly due to her assault on her fellow housemate Mercy which led to her being disqualified and evicted from the house as explained above. According to the BBNaija rule book, assault is against the rule in the Big Brother house.
Against all odds, she is one of that she has gone on to do big things in her chosen field. She has won awards like Net Honour’s Most Popular Person, Female Personality of The Year, Celebrity Entrepreneur of the year and many more. She was the brand ambassador of GetFit, a Fitness brand. Interestingly, she also made her acting debut in 2022,in the Nollywood movie “Tiger’s Tail.”
Gideon Okeke (BBNaija 2006)
Before appearing in the television series, Tinsel and going on to attain prominence in the entertainment industry, Gideon Okeke was a 22-year-old Biochemistry graduate who dared to pursue his aspirations of becoming an entertainer.
He has since become one of the most decorated modern-day thespians.
Tobi Bakre (BBNaija Double Wahala, 2018)
There is no Nollywood action movie that doesn’t feature the well-built Tobi Bakre. Renowned for his masculine charm and manly physique, Bakre has been showing men how to be men since he first appeared in the 2018 BBNaija Double Wahala edition where he finished as a second runner-up.
His role in the movie Brotherhood garnered critical acclaim and established him as a foreman for Nollywood action movies. While he continues to land high-profile acting gigs, Tobi is also a fitness enthusiast, which has further solidified his position as a well-rounded entertainer and public figure.
