“I mismanaged my BBNaija win”— Phyna opens up on money and family strain

BBNaija ‘Level Up’ winner Phyna says she mismanaged her prize money after winning in 2022, and family pressure played a big part.

Speaking on a livestream on Saturday, the 28-year-old said she gave out too much to relatives without thinking about saving or investing. At the time, she said she felt it was right to help with medical bills and personal projects whenever they asked.

“No one in my family advised me on how to preserve or invest my earnings,” Phyna said. Problems started when she began saying no to some requests. That’s when tensions grew.

She also said her relationship with her family has been strained for years. Growing up, she was treated harshly and people didn’t expect her to succeed. Looking back, she wishes she had handled things differently, including how she reconnected with them after the show.

Phyna has been open about family fallout before. She dropped her surname at one point and said she felt disconnected from her roots. Her father, Felix Otabor, told a 2023 interview he hadn’t seen her since her BBNaija win and accused her of not keeping promises to the family.

Her latest comments show the personal and financial strain she says she’s dealt with since fame hit.