Former Big Brother Naija housemate Seyi Awolowo has revealed that he deliberately tried to hide his famous family identity when he joined the 2019 edition of the reality television show, saying he wanted to be judged on his own merit rather than by his surname.
Speaking on The Nigeria Meter Podcast, Seyi explained that his original plan was to enter the competition simply as “Seyi” without other contestants knowing he was the grandson of the late Nigerian nationalist and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
According to him, everything changed during the live launch of the show when host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu announced his full name before millions of viewers.
“I didn’t want anybody to know I was an Awolowo in the house. I wanted to be there as just Seyi, but the moment Ebuka called ‘Seyi Awolowo,’ my whole plan disappeared,” he said.
Seyi stressed that his famous family name did not give him any special advantage in getting into the competition. He said he went through the same audition process as every other contestant, queued with thousands of hopefuls and only received his golden ticket in the early hours of the third day.
He also recalled attending the audition with a friend, while one of his stepbrothers arrived too late to take part.
The former reality TV star said his decision to hide his identity was driven by a desire to build his own reputation instead of relying on the legacy of one of Nigeria’s most respected political figures.
Seyi Awolowo was one of the most talked-about contestants during the 2019 edition of Big Brother Naija, and his latest remarks have reignited conversations about identity, privilege and personal achievement.
