Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Josephina Otabor, better known as Phyna, has expressed deep regret over how she handled the prize money from the show. She admitted that instead of investing the funds, she used them to support family members, a decision she now considers a major mistake.
During a recent live stream, the reality TV star opened up about her financial missteps. She confessed that her youth and inexperience led her to mismanage the money. Phyna also criticized her relatives for failing to provide sound financial guidance when she needed it most.
According to Phyna, her family members were constantly making demands for financial assistance rather than encouraging her to invest wisely. She recounted providing boreholes for several relatives, but as soon as she began refusing requests, conflicts arose. They would complain publicly and even tarnish her name in the media whenever she could not meet their expectations. Now that the money is gone, she faces the consequences alone.
The star lamented, “The biggest error was using my BBNaija winnings to help relatives instead of investing. I thought I was being helpful by clearing their debts and being generous. Not one older family member advised me on managing or investing the money. Everyone just kept asking for more. The moment I said ‘No,’ my problems with them began. Now that the cash is exhausted, I am left to deal with reality by myself.”
Phyna won the N100 million grand prize for the seventh season of Big Brother Naija in 2022. The prize included N50 million in cash and another N50 million worth of gifts from sponsors. The former housemate now wishes she had used the opportunity to secure her financial future rather than pleasing others.