By Cynthia Johnson
Finally, the Big Brother All Stars season eight which premiered on July 23, ended on Sunday, October 1, with a female housemate emerging winner for the third time in the show’s history.
Ilebaye Precious Odiniya popularly known as Ilebaye emerged as the winner, edging out CeeC, Mercy Eke, Adekunle, Pere, and Cross to win the ₦120 million cash prize.
Seven individuals have previously held this position, and they include:
1. Katung Aduwak (2006)
Thirty-eight (38) year-old Katung Aduwak is an entrepreneur who hails from Zonkwa, Kaduna, Nigeria.
2. Efe Ejeba (2017)
Michael Efe Ejeba popularly known as Efe or Efe Money won the second season of the Big Brother Naija show, which was tagged the ‘See Gobe’ edition. Housemates like Bisola, Kemen, TBoss among others were in participation.
3. Miracle Igbokwe (2018)
Miracle emerged winner of the 2018 Season 3 edition tagged ‘Double Wahala’ which was broadcast on 28 January and ended on 22 April 2018. On May 30, 2018, Miracle received his N25 million cheque, a Hyundai SUV, and a trip to an exotic location for two people.
4. Mercy Eke (2019)
Mercy Eke also known as Lambo became the first female housemate to win the BBNaija season 4 show tagged ‘Pepper Dem’ after a battle-long competition with other housemates including Tacha, Mike, Omashola and others.
5. Laycon (2020)
The Lockdown Nigeria season saw Olamilekan Massoud Al-Khalifah Agbeleshebioba popularly known as Laycon as winner. He went home with N85m worth of prizes.
6. WhiteMoney (2021)
The ‘Shine Ya Eye’ season had Hazel Oyeye Onou popularly known as Whitemoney, as the winner. The entrepreneur edged out the other twenty-four housemates to win the N90million grand prize.
7. Phyna (2022)
Ijeoma Josephina Otabor Popularly known as Phyna, beat twenty-eight other housemates to clinch the N100 million grand prize on the show tagged ‘Level-Up’.
She got the crown after seventy-two days in Biggie’s House.