‘I regret going to BBNaija, but love the benefits’ — Ex-winner Mercy Eke

Big Brother Naija season four winner, Mercy Eke, says she regrets taking part in the reality television show, even though she has enjoyed the benefits that came with it.

She made this known during an interview on media personality, Toke Makinwa’s show, Toke Moments which was published on Saturday.

Eke, who won the fourth edition of the show in 2019 and returned for an All Stars edition, said the attention that came with her time on the programme had made it difficult for her to find peace.

“I regret going to Big Brother, even though I love the benefits that come from it,” she said.

The reality star explained that constant public scrutiny had taken a toll on her, adding that she often struggled to sleep because of how her life was compared to others who were not in the public eye.

“I wish I didn’t go, because I have friends who… I know people who are like, okay, this person has passed me but nobody’s talking about them, because they are not out there. But me, I’m not doing anything, and I can’t even sleep at night,” she said.

Eke told Makinwa that she returned for the All Stars edition in pursuit of prize money, but noted that the experience differed from what she expected.

“I felt like all of us, we have money already, but a lot of people were not acting like they didn’t have money before. They were more hungry than me,” she said.

She said she would not go on the show again.

On life after Big Brother, Eke said she had focused on setting personal goals and drew inspiration from other successful Nigerian women.

“I work hard, I challenge myself, I set goals for myself. A lot of that drives me to become a better version of myself, and then just keep moving, getting things done,” she said.

The reality star also addressed misconceptions about her personal life, including claims that her lifestyle is funded by a married man. She said she had been in a relationship for four years with a partner who is single.

Eke, who recently completed a master’s degree in the United Kingdom, said the experience taught her the importance of financial literacy in business, including tracking income, expenses and balance sheets.

“No knowledge is a waste,” she said.