Winner of Big Brother Naija Season 7, Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has reflected on what she describes as her biggest financial mistake since leaving the reality show.
Speaking during a recent livestream, the reality star revealed that she was unprepared for the financial responsibilities that came with winning the ₦100 million prize in 2022.
Phyna admitted that instead of seeking professional financial guidance or investing the money for long-term stability, she focused heavily on supporting family members.
She explained that a large portion of the funds went into settling relatives’ debts, giving out financial assistance, and funding community-related projects such as borehole construction for family use.
According to her, the intention was to help her loved ones, but she now believes the approach was not financially sustainable.
“I thought I was helping my family members and sorting out their debts,” she said, adding that she spent generously without proper investment planning.
She also noted that she did not receive adequate financial advice from older relatives after winning the prize, which contributed to her spending decisions.
The reality star said tensions began when she started turning down financial requests from family members.
Phyna added that resistance from relatives increased after she could no longer meet their expectations, leading to public criticism in some instances.
She further disclosed that she now feels the financial burden alone, as the funds have been exhausted while the consequences remain.
Her comments have sparked renewed conversations around financial literacy, sudden wealth management, and the pressures placed on public figures to support extended families.
