Big Brother Naija Lockdown: The Nigerian Youth Populace and the Reflection of the Social Self

Abstract

When one reflects on the day-to-day livelihood of the average Nigerian youth, it begs the
question of whether Nigeria has in turn been “faithful and loyal” to its citizens when the
latter have pledged to do so for the development of the acclaimed giant of Africa. Citizens, in
the context of this paper, solely refer to the Nigerian youth who constitute half of the total
population; with an age range that runs between 15 and 34 years. The country, though not
oblivious of the agile youth as its bedrock for present and perpetual sustenance, has been
unable to provide for the immediate and consequently the imminent future needs of its youth;
leaving the gargantuan part of the class underemployed or unemployed, as a result of
glaring, unfavorable socio-economic decisions that transcend from jaundiced political
activities. Hence, the emergence of the coronavirus in December 2019 dealt a double, intense
blow to the Nigerian youth who, prior to the economic wrenching pandemic, could hardly
sustain himself on his paltry earnings in an inauspicious social environment. For the
Nigerian youth, therefore, the Lockdown presents the opportunity for a more intense
reflection of the self and social identity, such that the well-acclaimed Big Brother Naija,
Season Five Lockdown Edition, sets off a social identity paradigm for the young populace.