Unknown to many, the highly anticipated Big Brother Naija reality TV show kicking off tomorrow Sunday, January 22 is taking place in South Africa. Twelve Nigerian housemates will be ushered into the house, with the winner clinching N25 million and a brand new car after 11 weeks. The show will be hosted by Ebuka Obi Uchendu , who was a contestant in the first edition of BBN held in 2006 in Nigeria.
Mimi Ucheagwu of XLR8, a communications management consultancy firm representing MultiChoice, said the show is going to South Africa for the same reasons The Voice Naija was hosted in that country.
In her words:” The structure used for The Voice Naija is on ground. It will be a waste to host the show somewhere else when the facility is still available in South Africa.”
M-Net Regional Director, West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said The Voice Nigeria was taken to South Africa for “business reasons”.
Her words: “The decision to shoot it in South Africa was based on business reasons which every business has to take.It was about commitment. It was about the best quality show in the most efficient manner to ensure that our sponsors and the coaches are happy.The decision to shoot it in South Africa was based on business reasons which every business has to take.”
Insiders say the cost of hosting the show in Nigeria is part of the major reasons why the show was moved to South Africa. Though the show will be shot in South Africa, the organizers have promised that the show will be 100% Nigerian content.