BB Naija 2020: Nigerians React
It is said that one man’s meat is another man’s poison, so the assessment of the BB Naija reality TV show differs from one person to another.
According to Wikipedia, reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unknown individuals rather than professional actors. This entails the illumination of the true nature of the participants.
The BB Naija show is the most viewed reality show in Nigeria with millions of subscribers and followers ranging from youths to aged adults. The N85 million prize attached to this year’s edition has made the show a talk of the town.
Just like any issue of national concern, BB Naija is not without mixed reactions, some giving credence to the show and others ruling against it.
However, Orient Daily, due to the recent clamour by stakeholders to shut down the show, conducted an investigation to sample the views of some members of the public on the programme.
Indications are that even as many as those who want the show terminated are high, the number of those who are die-hard fans increase geometrically.
To Love Okenyi, the General Manager, Java Global Concept, Umuahia, the show is never supposed to be criticized because it is a lucrative business for the sponsors and organizers. She noted that she doesn’t look at it from the morality angles. She sees somebody’s business growing speedily and should not be cut short.
Her words: “No time to judge them. Multichoice is doing business, finish.”
Speaking with this paper, Amara Iwuchukwu, a business woman and social media influencer from Port Harcourt noted that the TV show is just like a scripted movie people watch for relaxation and so shouldn’t be attacked.
“The world is too serious with the Coronavirus outbreak and different economic issues here and there. There is the need for relaxation. I see BB Naija as a medium to reduce stress”
“The N85 million prize is not also a waste of resources. It is not easy for someone to put about three months of his/her Iife on hold for another person’s business, so having that amount as a reward is not bad. There are lots of opportunities in this show. Aside the fact that the contestants will become ambassadors to different brands, fans also get to meet people who can help them. For the morality issue, it is an individual thing. There are many contestants who don’t get clingy with the opposite sex. Those who misbehave there often get the punishment immediately, so, the show, to me, is nice.”
In a media chat, Vivian Nnaemeka, a fashion designer residing at Ado-Ekiti, noted that the show is not bad, only that it helps to reveal the level of moral decadence among Nigerian youth and that the youth should concentrate on themselves individually.
“With or without BB Naija, immorality is already deep rooted in our society. But in my humble opinion, I really don’t think it is a crap. Although people say money is wasted voting, but I think it is a way of making Nigerians gather to contribute to others’ progress. Besides, it is not that the show is a show for immorality it is just that most of the people there have poor discipline. I cannot imagine going there and doing half of what those idiots do. It reveals how corrupt Nigerian youths as a whole are. It shows us (youths) where we are lacking”
Orient Daily also spoke to Alex Anyakorah and Precious Chinecherem, who are students of the University of Nigeria and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University respectively. Anyakorah stated that there was nothing wrong with the TV show and that it was the only Nigerian TV programme he derives pleasure watching. While Chinecherem noted that even though the TV show is not too godly to be celebrated, but it aids lots of businesses in the country and indirectly generates revenues for the country’s economy.
A clergyman, Pastor Chukwudi Dike from Christ Holy Church International, Owerri referred to the reality TV show as a dirty show. He decried the attitude of rich individuals and companies who spend huge sum to sponsor such a show where, according to him, satanic activities are enthroned.
“If only there could be an educating version of this programme, if only they could house some intelligent people in like manner and make them compete for similar prizes. But, no! Our people do not encourage sanity. Our society promotes evil over good, indecency over decency, immorality over morality, and ungodliness over godliness.
“The best in Mathematics competitions will go home with either a carton of cowbell milk or Indomie noodles, ridiculous stipends and laughable prizes. Yet, these morons in BBN will earn millions for coming to speak thrash, display nudity, and get under the sheets on international TVs… What a wasted generation! What a time! How do we raise, nurture and produce the next Chike Obis, Chinua Achebes, Wole Soyinkas, Cyril stoveetc…Nigeria is broke morally and financially, yet the sponsors are wasting millions of Naira on a highly immoral programme. Please what is the lesson that one can learn from this Big Brother show? What can our youths pick from it?” Dike asked.
Promise Amalaha, the band leader of the Umuobiligbo duo, stated that the level of corruption in Nigeria has made it such that being truthful and responsible won’t add to anyone’s finance.
“The hunger to seek for moral values and stay true to it, is quenching rapidly, as it seems not to draw the attentions and credit beeps from banks and other financial endorsements. This is the biggest reason why the godly health of the world is deteriorating,” he said, adding:
“I need the N85million but I can’t trade my moral value on national/reality TV in order to have it,” he added.
Chinwe Ohadike, a civil servant in Anambra State, decried the reality TV show claiming that it has no benefit to Nigerian youths instead it tends to completely destroy the little moral value still evident in the Nigerian society.
“BBN is characterized with alcoholism, nudity, sex, entertainment and vulgarism. It has generated so many criticisms and condemnation from different individuals. The truth must be told because we cannot continue to nurture a society that invests huge amount of money on an iniquitous show like BBNaija and expect to groom a generation of cultured, disciplined and morally upright leaders.
“What moral values are the show transmitting to the youths today? It has made it clear to us that we are in a society where immorality and stupidity are rewarded with great and big prizes. Some individuals see the participants as human beings in the zoo pressured to behave like nothing but animals because the organizers of the show use them in making money and also legitimizing pornography,” she lamented.
While many were either in support of closing the reality show or leaving it, ChijiokeOnuorah was of a different opinion.
Onuorah lamented the selection of the BBN housemates over those who should truly benefit from the programme. According to him, the set of housemates selected for this year’s edition are rich youths from wealthy families whereas there are many talented and broke youths on street who truly need the money.
“How will someone who schooled abroad be selected to participate in the show, or someone who flew an aircraft to the city where the show is being hosted? This truly indicates cheating… These guys don’t need the money and they are not even as talented as many normal guys on the streets. It is not fair that poor masses will be collectively making the rich, richer. For me, I don’t have any issue with morality or immorality, mine is that the show should be meant to empower the poor and talented,” Onuorah said.
Analyses of responses gathered from the investigation showed that a large number of Nigerians watch or follow the reality TV show on social media.
However, suspension or termination of the TV show appears not to be the best idea, but rather reviewing the modus-operandi and activities in the show. Though the show is not meant for children under18, but due to lack of proper parental guidance in Nigeria many under-aged children watch and follow the show.
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