Popular Big Brother Naija director, Gbenga Kayode, has rejected claims that the reality television show was created to distract Nigerians, particularly young people, from important national issues.
Over the years, critics have accused the organisers of scheduling the show to divert public attention, especially during election periods and other significant political events.
Speaking on a recent episode of the CreativiTea Podcast, Kayode dismissed the allegations, insisting that the programme was never designed as a tool for political distraction.
According to him, Big Brother Naija is an apolitical entertainment show created solely to entertain audiences and provide opportunities for contestants, not to influence political discourse or shift public attention away from national matters. He stressed that the organisers have no political agenda and that the reality show should not be viewed as an instrument for distracting Nigerians.
“To be very honest, we never approach Big Brother Naija show from the angle of politics or distraction. People definitely have assumptions that are not true.
“The ideas are basically if you put people in this space under these conditions, what will happen? How the people would react, we don’t know. It has nothing to do with politics or distracting people,” he said.
Kayode also dismissed allegations that Big Brother Naija fuels an “Olodo uprising” or encourages illiteracy, maintaining that the criticism is unfounded. He pointed out that every previous winner of the reality show is a university graduate, arguing that the programme does not celebrate or promote ignorance.
BACKSTORY:
For years, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) has remained one of Nigeria’s most popular reality television shows, attracting millions of viewers across Africa while producing several celebrities and influencers. Despite its massive following, the show has also faced persistent criticism from some Nigerians, who argue that it promotes immorality, encourages unhealthy lifestyles, and diverts young people’s attention from education, governance, and other pressing national issues.
The criticism often becomes louder during election seasons, with some commentators alleging that the programme is deliberately scheduled to distract Nigerians—particularly the youth—from political developments and civic engagement. Although no evidence has been presented to support these claims, the accusations have continued to resurface whenever a new season of the show is announced.
BBNaija has also been criticised for allegedly promoting what some describe as an “Olodo uprising”—a slang expression suggesting the celebration of ignorance or lack of education. Critics argue that the reality show places more value on fame and entertainment than on academic achievement or intellectual development.
Responding to these long-standing allegations during a recent appearance on the CreativiTea Podcast, BBNaija director Gbenga Kayode dismissed the claims, insisting that the reality show is apolitical and was never created to distract Nigerians. He also rejected suggestions that the programme promotes illiteracy, pointing out that every past winner of Big Brother Naija is a university graduate.
Kayode maintained that the show’s primary objective is to entertain audiences while providing contestants with opportunities to showcase their talents and build successful careers in the entertainment industry.
