By Kehinde Okeowo
The controversy on the relevance of the Reality Television Show, Big Brother Naija, on the socio-economic wellbeing of the country, is not the one that will fizzle out in a hurry. To some segments of the society, especially the elderly and those of the puritanical bent, it is a show that promotes immorality and should be taken off the screens. For the youths and the more liberal members of the society, it has a lot of social and economic benefits. So, the debate continues.
Big Brother Naija an adaptation of Big Brother Africa was formerly known as Big Brother Nigeria, is a Nigerian reality competition television series, in which a number of contestants of both sexes live in an isolated house for several weeks and compete for a large cash price and other gifts. The winner is eventually picked by viewers. The first season of the show was aired on a DSTV channel in 2006. Since then, three other editions have produced various winners. The fifth season, termed Lockdown, is ongoing.
The show like any other event has had its fair share of criticism. A lot Nigerians who are not favourably disposed to the show have argued that it offers no educative, intellectual or moral value to the society, and therefore, should be banned by the Nigerian government. Some have gone further to label it as a morally bankrupt show designed to corrupt the Nigerian society, families and most especially the youth. Others simply see it as a waste of their time and a television programme that adds nothing to them. Ibitoye John, a Pastor, simply dismissed the programme as one lacking in contents and morals.
Analysts see the criticism to the show as a welcome development and a challenge for the organisers to improve on the outings. To them however, the call for a ban of the event, amounts to intolerance. Those with this view have their reasons; one is that the show in question is on DSTV, a pay television in which a viewer has to subscribe to watch, and not on televisions that are free or available to most Nigerians. Besides, it is rated 18 years and above. By this, it is targeted at adults who are old enough to take decisions. Television viewers are also at liberty to block the channel or opt out of it completely, if they are comfortable with the show. Therefore, it is not imposed on anyone, the company offering the service gives every Nigerian the opportunity to make a choice. It is therefore one’s decision to watch or not.
“Those who argue that it has no value and offers nothing to the Nigerian society might need to think again, because such view cannot stand litmus test and can only come from people that are parochial about the show and those criticizing it based on their limited knowledge”, a keen patron of the show told our correspondent. He argued that followers of the show, know that apart from romantic gestures between the contestants, which in itself can be educative, there are other intellectual activities, such as arena games/competitions, head of house task, diary session and other presentations where contestants test their mental, intellectual and physical abilities, stressing that viewers learn from the genuine endeavors of participants.
According to an educationist and entrepreneur, Mrs. Abimbola Olamilokun, “Many corporate organizations and NGOs identified with Big Brother Naija because of its intellectual contents. No organization of repute will stake its hard earned reputation on a show that will negatively impact its image”.
She adds that one’s assessment of the show is likely dependent on his interest and knowledge.
Supporters of the show equally argue that it offers windows of opportunity both at the micro and macro levels of the economy. They insist that individuals, families, organizations and the Nigeria economy at large benefit from the show, especially with the adverse effect of covid-19 on the Nigerian and world economy. “Let’s not forget that the entertainment industry is one of the sectors of the economy that was hit the hardest. Apart from the contestants, Disc Jockeys, musicians, dancers, compares, event planners, hairdressers, barbers, fashion designers, engineers , ICT technicians, artisans, celebrities and many other Nigerians who are going to play a part or the other in the event, will earn revenue and those whose revenue base had taken a hit because of the pandemic can also recoup their losses. On the whole, it will benefit Nigeria both at the individual and corporate levels and will definitely bring prosperity into Nigerian homes and put money in their pockets”, Kenny, a human resource management expert argued.
He adds that with the reality show, lives of contestants and people around them will change for the better because they will become famous and earn the privilege to build platforms through which they can launch their careers in life. “In the past, some of the contestants had gone on to build careers as actors, entrepreneurs, on-air personalities, Disc jockeys and compares to name just few. Some went back into the corporate world and excelled in their chosen professions, while those who won the event used the proceed they got to further their dreams”, he remarked.
Example of such contestant who built on his outing is the winner of Session 3, Miracle Ikechukwu Igbokwe, who used the money he won to further his dream of becoming a pilot in United States of America.
Other patrons of the programme maintain that though like other human endeavors it may not be perfect, it is a reality show which takes the interest of the public, including those adverse to it into cognizance, by making it a matter of choice for viewers. They stressed that it is also beneficial to individual, families, corporate establishments and the Nigerian society at large because of it entertainment and educative contents, economic impact and the opportunities presented to young Nigerians to actualize their dreams.
