Int’l Youth Day: Ooni Thumbs Down Big Brother Naija; Suggests “Big Nigeria Reality Show”

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, has called for the replacement of the Big Brother Naija show with “Big Nigeria Reality Show” that will better boost the strength of Nigerians  youths.

The monarch made the call when he hosted a mammoth crowd of Nigerian youths from all parts of the country under the umbrella of the National Youth Council of Nigeria on Wednesday in his palace at Ile-Ife.

He vehemently criticized the Big Brother Naija reality show, a popular program among the youths, describing it as misrepresenting the goodness and integrity of the Nigerian youths.

“In the last general election, the total number of votes cast was around 27 million while over 170 million people voted during the 2019 Big Brother Naija reality show. “This is a practical reality of who Nigerian youths are and where our priorities lie as Nigerians.

The monarch who described the youths as the country’s untapped immeasurable wealth and resources stressed the need for participation of more youths in leadership, lamented that the youths have misplaced their priorities and must redress it as a matter of urgent public importance.

He mentioned that “Nigerian youths are fun of accusing and abusing our leaders, stop abusing them contribute your own quota. Let’s wear our thinking caps and begin to act like the real future leaders that we are.

“The funny side in all of these is that we still go to bed, have a good sleep and wake up with the hope to meet a Nigeria we didn’t create. Unfortunately, every time I talk about this kind of attitude, everyone just laugh and move on. What kind of nation are we building?

“When people say this country, or what kind of country is this, they are indirectly saying these people – it is the people that make a country; so what kind of Nigerian youths are we?” Ooni quarried.

The monarch then made a case for a reality show that will project the country’s values, cultures and traditions.

He urged leaders of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (IYD ) to work out plans on the show suggesting, “The Big Nigeria Reality Show” as a possible replacement. According to him, “The proposed show will be structured in a way that young professionals, talented individuals and others across several field of endeavour will be showcased and helped to reach their peak.

“This would help the participants and also help viewers to have access to people that can be seen as role models,” Ooni concluded.

Earlier in his address, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, who was represented by Dr. Mariam Abdullahi, a Director in the Ministry, explained that the youths have major roles to play in the country’s development.