Former Big Brother Naija housemate Ike Onyema has admitted that his biggest regret from the 2019 edition of the reality show was failing to understand what it took to win the competition.
Speaking in an interview with Kaptain Jeff TV, the reality TV star said he focused on winning tasks because he believed that strong performances alone would secure the grand prize.
According to him, he later realised that emotional moments also played a significant role in connecting with viewers and influencing the outcome of the competition.
“I regret not crying. If I knew what the show was, I would have been in the house doing emotional displays. I thought winning tasks would be enough to win the money,” he said.
Onyema revealed that he earned less than ₦4 million during his first appearance on the show, explaining that the money came from several task victories rather than the grand prize.
He noted that the rewards were paid in smaller amounts, including cash prizes of ₦500,000 and ₦300,000 from different challenges.
Reflecting on his relationship with a fellow contestant during the show, the entrepreneur insisted it was genuine and not part of a game plan.
He said he enjoyed the relationship while it lasted and would not change that aspect of his BBNaija experience, although he would approach the competition differently if given another opportunity.
“The only thing I would change is that I would try different ways to win the money,” he said.
Away from reality television, Onyema also spoke about his decision to relocate from the United States to Nigeria.
He explained that Nigeria offered entrepreneurs greater flexibility to establish businesses, citing the ease of obtaining a liquor licence compared to the lengthy process he experienced in the US.
However, he acknowledged that building wealth in Nigeria requires greater determination and creativity.
According to him, living in Nigeria taught him the true meaning of resilience and hard work.
The former housemate also praised the optimism of many Nigerians, saying he was inspired by the positive attitude of people despite the country’s economic challenges.
On his financial journey, Onyema admitted making costly mistakes after leaving the reality show.
He said he spent excessively on maintaining his public image through photo shoots and stylists, while also investing in businesses without carrying out proper due diligence because the proposals came from friends.
Asked whether relationships with women contributed to his financial setbacks, Onyema dismissed the suggestion, insisting his biggest challenges came from poor investment decisions rather than personal relationships.