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Celebrity housemates 2018: Eniola Badmus is crowned queen

By Shaibu Husseini
17 February 2018   |   3:13 am
With a cash prize of N7million for the eventual winner, Producer of the show and Chief Executive Officer of Heartlinks Consult, Kemi Otegbade, explained that the decision to pick housemate from all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria was to promote peace and unity and to foster the spirit of cooperation and oneness among Nigerians.

Eniola Badmus

There were 12 participants in this diet of the television reality show and all of them were notable screen and music celebrities.For one month, beginning January 12, the afro hip-hop rap star, Ruggedman; actor, Yomi Fash-Lanso; Eniola Badmus; Emmanuel Ikubuese; Peggy Ovire; Bolanle Ninalowo; Funky Mallam; Muma Gee; Fredrick Leonard; Ada Ameh; Ogenna Ekwubiri; and Doris Simeon were camped in an apartment in Lagos and placed on series of daily challenges and task in the reality game show, themed, ‘Convergence of Culture, Lifestyle and Entertainment.’

With a cash prize of N7million for the eventual winner, Producer of the show and Chief Executive Officer of Heartlinks Consult, Kemi Otegbade, explained that the decision to pick housemate from all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria was to promote peace and unity and to foster the spirit of cooperation and oneness among Nigerians. So, every week, for four weeks, viewers voted for their favourite celebrity to stay till the end, while the contestants with the lowest votes were evicted.

But by last week, the plumy and notable screen actress, Eniola, was the last ‘woman’ standing of the 12 contestants. The sultry actress, who is as popular in the Yoruba movie circles as she is in mainstream Nollywood, was declared winner of the maiden edition of Celebrity Housemates reality television show.As the last contestant standing, Eniola received the N7million cash prize, and according to the promoters of the show, the Ogun State-born actress “will also enjoy many perks.”

An elated Eniola took to her social media handles shortly after she was declared winner to thank her fans and colleagues for their support.She wrote: “Words alone can’t express my genuine appreciation. I have been completely overwhelmed by the love and support I received these past weeks on the show.“Your sincere vote and push for the Eniola Badmus brand has not only made me the winner of the celebrity housemates reality TV show, but also a clear testimony of the amazing fans I am privileged to have and am indeed grateful.

“Big shout out to the organisers of the show for creating a huge platform. You guys are amazing. Now I believe you more.”An actress of vast credit, Eniola was one of those housemates that observers had tipped as the likely winner of the show, arguing that she has a huge fan base and she is quite popular amongst the crowd, who watch both the English and Yoruba movies.

Eniola is notable and a darling of the television-viewing crowd, who find her role portrayal believable.The native of Ijebu-Ode attended the University of Ibadan and the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, for her first and second degrees in Theatre Arts and Economics, respectively.She started acting professionally in the early 2000s, but shot to prominence after she featured in two hit Yoruba movies, Jenifa and Omo Ghetto, both of which she acknowledged to be instrumental to her meteoric rise in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Indeed, it took her inimitable efforts, first in both movies for Eniola’s career swivel chair to turn positively. The witty actress and brand ambassador has since then been busy, sparring in several Yoruba and English movies, including Angelina, Blackberry Babes, Village Babes, Oreke Temi, Visa Lottery, Police Academy, Omo Esu, Wicked Stepmother, Mr. & Mrs Ibu, Child Seller, Adun Ewuro, Ojukwu the War Lord, Not My Queen, Battle for Justice, Miss Fashion and Eefa.

Recipient of a number of industry awards, including the 2010 Best of Nollywood Awards for actress in a supporting role; 20111 Best of Nollywood awards for best actress in a leading role (Yoruba); 2012 Best of Nollywood awards for Best Crossover in a film and Best Supporting Actress in a Yoruba film and 2014 City People Entertainment awards for Best Actress of the Year (Yoruba), Eniola disclosed that she would return to the turf and continue from where she stopped, “now that the drilling show is over.”

She added: “But while at that, I will reach out to the less privileged and see how I can initiate a programme that will promote unity among Nigerians.“I am not sure what shape the programme will take, but it is something I will really love to do. The idea of that pet project came while I was in the house and I must confess that the show was particularly drilling and was very intense.

“But I am happy I was a part of it, because it has also prepared me for career and life. I will miss the organisers of the show, the host of the show, Keppy Ekpeyong, who is a bundle of talent, and my amazing fellow housemates. I saw them differently while we were in the house and my respect for each of them has increased. “I think we should have more of such programmes that will promote peace and unity and co-habitation.”

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