Niyi Lawal, a former Big Brother Naija (Shine Ya Eye) housemate, has said that money was the motivational factor that made him relocate his South African wife and son to join him in Nigeria.
Before BBN, Niyi was based in South Africa.
The avid fantasy gamer told Sunday Scoop, “I had always looked forward to returning home. However, I finally made the decision because of the awareness I got from BBN. The opportunities I have now have changed everything for me. I also have business ventures to pursue here. Basically, money convinced me to relocate.”
Speaking on his current projects, he said, “I am working on my fashion brands and show. I also have a family brand and new businesses that would soon be unveiled.”
Niyi also maintained that unlike what some former BBN contestants had said, he was not under pressure to live in a certain way.
He said, “Living a certain way depends on the individual. Nothing has changed about my way of life. The only pressure has been to succeed and consolidate my opportunities, and that has always been the goal even before Big Brother. I’m insulated from any pressure.”
He also stated that his size made it challenging for him to buy clothes, especially as a teenager. He said, “While growing up, my inability to find my correct sizes made me give up on stores. I even had a phobia for fitting clothes because I knew they would not fit. However, it also made me creative as regards my fashion choices.”
Though some people think that running a fantasy gaming platform like Niyi does is not lucrative in Nigeria, he maintained that it has been a rewarding business for him.