Big Brother Naija reality television show has become the most sought-after entertainment show in Western Africa with grossing viewers resulting in over 200 million in a season since after the record-breaking season 5 Lockdown edition.
The franchise, owned by South Africa’s Multichoice group has spread over Africa, with the main concentration in Nigeria, which has more population of viewers than any other country in the continent. This prestigious entertainment show was launched for Nigerian audiences in 2006 at the time the controversial African version, Big Brother Africa was blacklisted.
The show, after it premiered and aired from March 5 to June 4, 2006, didn’t hold again until January 2017 when the second season was launched. From 2017, the show has been aired annually, till date. The show has produced exactly eight winners ranging from 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, to 2023. As the topic of our writing states, we are here to reveal to you the highest Nigerian State that has produced more winners of the BBNaija show than the other.
Geopolitical representation
On our list, Imo, the South-Eastern Nigerian State is on top with two winners, Miracle Igbokwe of season 3 and Mercy Eke of season 4. Although Southern Nigeria, geopolitically has produced two winners, Michael Efe Ejeba of season 2 and Josephina Phyna Ijeoma Otabor of season 7, perhaps, because both winners are from two different Southern States, Delta, and Edo respectively, we deem it not fit to count.
Besides, if we arrange our list in terms of geopolitical zones, the South-East comes first with three winners, Miracle Igbokwe (Imo State), Mercy Eke (Imo State), and Hazel Whitemoney Onoduenyi (Enugu State). South-South comes second with Michael Efe Ejeba (Delta State) and Josephina Ijeoma Otabor (Edo State). Then, singularly, the North-West has Katung Aduwak (Kaduna State), the North-Central is represented by the All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya (Kogi State), with the South-West coming with only one winner yet, the Lockdwon edition winner, Laycon Olamilekan Massoud Al-Khalifah Agbeleshebioba (Ogun State).
Imo State leads (at the moment)
As we mentioned earlier, the South-Eastern State, Imo, tops every other thirty-five States in Nigeria with two winners, Miracle Ikechukwu Igbokwe and Mercy Chinenyenwa Eke coming from there. Miracle first clinched the Big Brother Naija prize in 2018 during the season 3 Double Wahala edition. One year later, his hometown girl, Mercy Eke secured the prize from the season 4 Pepper Dem edition. It’s safe to say that the serendipity from Miracle’s season followed his sister, Mercy over the next season.
As the show progresses, there may be a time when other Nigerian States will feature on this list, or most likely, Imo State may decide to hold the baton all to itself.
Below is the tabular representation of Big Brother Naija winners, their seasons, and States of origin.
SEASON | WINNERS | STATE OF ORIGIN |
One | Katung Aduwak | Kaduna |
Two | Michael “Efe” Ejeba | Delta |
Three | Miracle Ikechukwu Igbokwe | Imo |
Four | Mercy Chinenyenwa Eke | Imo |
Five | “Laycon” Olamilekan Massoud Agbeleshebioba | Ogun |
Six | Hazel “Whitemoney” Onoduenyi | Enugu |
Seven | “Phyna” Josephina Ijeoma Otabor | Edo |
Eight | Ilebaye Odiniya | Kogi |
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