The curtains have opened to yet another Big Brother Naija season. The latest season premiered on Saturday, July 23rd with a dozen housemates introduced to fans and then to Big Brother’s house. The second opening day saw another set of 12 BBNaija housemates make their way into Big Brother’s house number two. As most fans of the reality TV show already know, the housemates have been split into two houses, the first set collectively referred to as Level 2 are camped in one house while the second set aka Level 1 are together in a different house. This brings the total of BBNaija housemates for the Level Up season to 24, 12 females and 12 males.
Social media has been set abuzz from the get-go with varying opinions about the housemate’s first impressions. Big brother has also received some tongue-lashing for his choice of interior decor, hopefully, this won’t hamper on the show’s entertainment value. The housemates are in and ready to play with hopes to level up to the finale. Yet to pick a fave? Read through to discover each of the BBNaija housemates competing in the Level Up season.
Phyna describes herself as a short-tempered lady who is very allergic to malice and gossip and will never be found involved in any in the house (we’re watching you lady!) “My view on relationships is: Na mumu dey fall in love,” the born entertainer says, but this is big brother’s house and anything can happen. Phyna’s goal for joining BBNaija was so she could “make a difference.”
Savior is a licensed pharmacist whose first love is acting. He hopes that BBNaija will avail him the opportunity to showcase his acting talents so he can professionally pursue the craft after the show. He is an extrovert who finds it easy to make friends and thus has lots of them. His obsession with a neat space, he says could be a source of contention between him and his fellow housemates. Savior is emotional and competitive.
Khalid is a freelance graphic designer and muralist who engages in extreme sports (such as skateboarding, and archery) for fun. He has a charismatic personality and enjoys having deep meaningful conversations with like minds. His other interests include mythology, basketball, and anime.
Kess is a married man who adores his family. He is a diehard fan of BBNaija and being a housemate is a dream come true for him. He is a businessman with many talents spanning from acting to dancing.
A Gen Z graduate of criminology and security studies, Ilebaye describes herself as controversial, adventurous, and a straight-talker. Some of the fun activity she enjoys includes swimming, partying, and bowling. She hopes to utilize her BBnaija fame to promote her business.
The 6 ft 5-inch tall Groovy says he’s single and hopes to find love, so shippers lookout for this one. The UNILAG grad owns a fashion business, models, and does music on the side. He describes himself as being ambitious and is not one to back down from an argument.
Amaka famously said on stage that she hopes to disappoint anyone who thinks a man will win the Level Up Season. She is a bold go-getter who is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. She admits to being a talkative, a trait that helps her stay honest.
Beauty is a former beauty queen who believes in the power of dogged determination. The last of 4 siblings, she holds a law degree but will love to promote her brand after Big Brother. She describes herself as a free-spirit who is open and reliable.
Bryann is a recording artist hoping to get further with his music career after the show. He is an ambivert with good people skills but maintains that he can be forgetful.
Christy O is an extrovert who enjoys having fun and maintains that there’s no dull moment with her. If her life were a movie, it will be titled “The Spice Girl.” She’s a great listener who pays attention to detail and would readily offer a helping hand to anyone in need. She promises to keep her pants on in the house. Her bad side? She is argumentative and blunt.
Cyph is an empath who feels and understands people deeply. He is a graphic designer who wishes he could also paint. Cyph has a competitive spirit which he believes most housemates will not like. He loves food, music, movies, and traveling.
Daniella is a ball of energy who enjoys working out. She’s a creative who loves to write poetry, sing, and dance and hopes to showcase her creative side to the fullest on the show. The sensitive and extremely observant Daniella has a strong dislike for bullies and will stand up to them at every given opportunity.
Chinenyenwa strips at night and works as a chef at dawn. She had a troubled childhood but is determined not to let her difficult experiences define her future. When she gets on the bad side of a fellow housemate, it could likely be due to her smart mouth. She loves drama and is ready to bring it on.
Watch out for Chomzy on the dance floor on Saturday nights as she describes herself as the life of the party who simply enjoys twerking. She hails from a close-knit family and hates betrayals and oppression. She hopes to promote her business on the show and expand it when the show’s done.
He is a fitness enthusiast and creative thinker who graduated with flying colors with an engineering degree. Gideon possesses a fun side that makes him easily likable. He hates drama!
16. Diana
Full Name: Diana Isoken Edobor
Age: 33
State: Edo
House: Level 1
Dual-lingual (French and English) Diana is a project manager by profession and loves to learn about new cultures, however, she hopes to jumpstart an acting career after the show. She is friendly but daring and not one to get easily intimidated.
17. Dotun
Full Name: Oladotun Mofiyinfoluwa Oloniyo
Age: 26
State: Ekiti
House: Level 1
Dotun graduated top of his class with a degree in medical physiology from the prestigious University of Ibadan. When he isn’t fixing up cramped limbs, he loves to keep his own limbs active through work-outs. He is friendly, fun-loving, and competitive, qualities he hopes viewers will find entertaining.
18. Doyin
Full Name: Doyinsola Anuoluwapo David
Age: 26
House: Level 1
Doyin is a medical radiologist but hopes to find a place in the entertainment industry as she considers medicine boring. She’s cheerful and fun but her knack for being blatantly honest makes it difficult for her to keep friends. Doyin says she’s good at manipulating but is a loyal friend who will never back-stab. She hates selfish and self-centered people.
19. Eloswag
Full Name: Eloka Paul Nwamu
Age: 27
State: Delta
House: Level 1
A techie who is confident in his own skin, Eloswag says he has what it takes to make the house fun. He has his way with ladies and is in the house to have fun and network.
20. Hermes
Full Name: Hermes Chibueze Iyele
House: Level 1
Hermes is a dancer and performance artist who has gone intercontinental with his talent. He has choreographed for industry greats like Burna Boy, Davido, and Ajebo Hustlers. He admits to being in a polyamorous relationship with 2 women and hopes to mingle in the house. Basketball is among his favorite pastimes.
21. Sheggz
Full Name: Segun Daniel Olusemo
Age: 26
State: Lagos
House: Level 1
Sheggz is a pro-footballer who after sustaining a sports injury turned his focus towards acting. A London boy who is still in touch with his Naija spirit, Seggz is ambitious, hardworking, and confident. He’s open to finding love in the house.
22. Adekunle
Full Name: Adekunle Tobilola Olopade Adekunle
Age: 27
State: Lagos
House: Level 1
Adekunle is an introvert who when not making money as a digital marketing consultant loves to solve other people’s problems. He’s a peacemaker by nature but not one to cower when being challenged. He considers himself very knowledgeable and would love to win the money to help pay off his mom’s mortgage.
23. Allysyn
Full Name: Osy Allysyn Audu
Age: 25
House: Level 1
A model and social media enthusiast, Allysyn wants to become a full-time social media influencer and TV presenter. She’s a fun-lover, joker, loyal friend sucker for love and is open to finding love in the house.
24. Bella
Full Name: Chidimma Esther Okagbue
Age: 25
“I do not ever want to introduce myself. I want to walk into a room and be recognised. I love a life of comfort and intentional happiness,” Bella says describing the type of life she wants which led her to the BBNaija house. She creates online content and loves photography. She’s a competitor who likes to win all the time and finds it easier befriending guys than girls.
Kanayo O. Kanayo demands lifetime streaming royalties for Nollywood stars
Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has stirred up a conversation the industry has been quietly avoiding for years. The award-winning actor and lawyer recently proposed that the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) implement a policy mandating lifetime royalty payments for all Nigerian actors and actresses featured in films uploaded to streaming platforms.
He also called for a dedicated agency to oversee and enforce compliance nationwide, arguing it would ensure performers earn from their craft long after the cameras stop rolling. The timing of the proposal is telling. Stories of financial ruin among once-beloved Nigerian actors have become alarmingly common.
Last month, veteran actor Abiodun Ayoyinka, widely known as Papa Ajasco, spoke openly about his financial struggles despite decades in the industry.
Two years prior, Hanks Anuku made headlines with public pleas for financial assistance after falling on hard times post-Nollywood.
Patience Ozokwor recently put it bluntly: “The reason why Nollywood actors and actresses are poor is that we don’t get royalties for what we do, we only get paid for our appearance at the shoot.” Her words, along with the others, show a consistent pattern of demand.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from industry figures. Writer-director Jadesola Osiberu responded with sarcasm, suggesting that if actors want royalties, perhaps they should also contribute to covering a producer’s losses proportional to their screen time, a dig at the one-sided nature of the demand.
Producer and actress Bolaji Ogunmola was more direct: if actors want backend earnings, they should negotiate equity stakes and invest in projects upfront rather than seek guaranteed payouts after the fact.
It’s a fair challenge. The music industry comparison many have reached for doesn’t quite hold up here.
In more structured film industries, residuals are tied to carefully negotiated distribution contracts and enforced by unions, organisations built over decades with legal infrastructure and industry-wide buy-in.
Hours after DJ Tunez publicly addressed the alleged altercation involving Burna Boy’s camp, Wizkid took to X with a series of posts that appear to directly mock Burna Boy over the incident.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show DJ Tunez, the Nigerian-American DJ, being physically attacked by individuals allegedly linked to Burna Boy’s camp. The incident, believed to have taken place at a private gathering at Obi Cubana’s residence, has sent fans of both artists into a frenzy online.
According to a source in Burna Boy’s camp, the confrontation ensued after DJ Tunez, who played at the event, accompanied the legendary Afrobeats superstar D’banj to Burna Boy’s section of the VIP lounge. The source said an argument followed between the Grammy-winning megastar and DJ Tunez, which then led to a scuffle before Burna Boy was quickly dragged away from the scene by his security.
In one tweet, he wrote: “Pussy nigga jump a DJ with 10 man carry Diddy towel dey dance. I never see fool like this diddy babe for my life,” a line that quickly began circulating across social media.
The post references the claims that multiple people were involved in the confrontation with Tunez, while also dragging in the ongoing online jokes linking Burna Boy to embattled American music executive Diddy.
Wizkid doubled down shortly after, posting an image of Johnson’s baby oil, a not-so-subtle callback to the same “baby oil” angle that has trailed Burna Boy in recent days, particularly following comments made by Speed Darlington that have since taken on a life of their own online.
The timing is also quite interesting. Wizkid’s posts come just as the situation between DJ Tunez and Burna Boy continues to escalate, with the Nigerian DJ Association already announcing a temporary nationwide ban on Burna Boy’s music pending further investigation.
Burna Boy himself has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident. What this does, however, is shift the tone. Until now, the situation has been judged to be somewhere between a personal dispute and an industry issue.
Wizkid’s involvement firmly pulls it back into the long-running, often tense rivalry between the camps, one that has historically played out through music, subtext, and the occasional online shade.
Kunle Remi Blasts Government on economic hardship, asks Nigerians to hold government accountable
Nollywood actor Kunle Remi has joined growing public frustration over the rising cost of petrol, using his platform to call for more open conversations about the country’s current economic strain
The actor pushed back against the idea that public figures should stay silent on political or economic issues. “Usually I say things like I don’t really get involved with politics… No, that’s the most stupid statement from anyone in Nigeria right now,” he said. “We should be discussing, we should be talking about it, we should be trying to fix… There’s nothing like sitting on the fence.”
Remi linked his concerns to the direct impact of fuel prices on everyday life, pointing to the ripple effect across businesses and households. “Today I bought petrol for 1,300-something naira,” he said, noting that everything from shopping malls to small barber shops depends heavily on petrol to operate. “I have a child, so I’m thinking not just for myself.”
He also questioned Nigeria’s sensitivity to global oil market shifts, particularly ongoing tensions in the Middle East. “I don’t understand why Nigeria is one of the first countries to be affected by the war in Iran. My spirit is very angry. All the things I’ve been working for is for what?” he said.
His comments come amid sustained pressure on petrol prices across Nigeria. Despite the start of domestic refining operations, including the Dangote Refinery, pump prices have continued to reflect global market volatility. Industry stakeholders have pointed to international crude oil price movements and geopolitical tensions as key factors limiting any immediate relief.
Recent market data shows that a nearly 20 per cent increase in petrol prices implemented last week remains in place, with a national average of about N1,300 per litre. A decline in crude oil prices earlier in the week has yet to translate into lower pump prices, raising further concerns among consumers.
Online, Remi’s remarks have drawn widespread support, with many users commending him for speaking out on an issue that directly affects daily living. Some described his comments as reflective of broader public sentiment, especially as more Nigerians grapple with rising transportation and operating costs.
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