The Star TV Game Show has produced nine millionaires so far, with twelve more winners expected as the seven-week competition continues. Each winning team member receives N1 million, and the show has already transformed the lives of ordinary Nigerians, from a trailer driver to an unemployed graduate.
Trailer Driver's Dream Comes True
Emeka John, a trailer driver based in Benin, Edo State, was enjoying a bottle of Star lager beer when he unknowingly participated in a raffle draw. He won instant prizes and a ticket to the Star TV Game Show in Lagos, with all expenses paid. Grouped with David Smith and Ugwu Chukwuemeka, the trio emerged as the winning team, each pocketing N1 million.
Emeka's joy was palpable: “I am so happy at this N1 million I have just won. I am not sure that I would have been able to save this amount of money in 10 years. Now that I have this N1 million, I am going to sack my employer and get my own truck and be independent.”
Driver Reunites with Family
Chinedu Agoh, a 32-year-old driver from Enugu State, won N1 million at the third edition of the show. For months, he had dreamed of reuniting with his wife and son, but his N25,000 monthly salary made that impossible. He had been sleeping on the pavement of a hotel in Enugu, using wrappers and cardboard as a mattress.
“I have been staying apart from my wife and son for the past six months due to lack of money to get a befitting accommodation. I sleep on the pavement of the underground floor of the hotel in Enugu where I work as a driver. I use wrappers and a cardboard given to me by my mother in place of a mattress. The place stinks, but I have no choice but to lay my head there every night. With this one million naira; I will pay for an accommodation for us to come back together as a family and open a bank account for my son,” Chinedu said.
He praised Star as “the best brand. Other brands make me sick but Star keeps me strong. Star is the leading brand. I love Star and appreciate the brand’s work as it keeps shining.”
Other Winners and Their Stories
Chidiaka Onyeachonam, a 26-year-old unemployed graduate, and Abiodun Ali, a 27-year-old cloth seller, also won N1 million each. Chidiaka, who had been job hunting for years, said, “I have been job hunting for years, but with one million naira from Star, I feel as if I am on the moon now. I am yet to come to the reality that my account will be credited with one million. I pinched myself about three times, just to confirm that I was not dreaming.”
Abiodun, from Ogun State, had been out of work since November last year and turned to selling clothes to students. He stated, “I have been out of work since November last year, which led me into buying and selling of clothes. My customers majorly are students; I do go to their various schools to sell to them. I am sure with this new status, that era is over.” Interestingly, all three winners on that night said they did not have up to N200,000 in their accounts before winning.
Emotional Moments and Audience Excitement
Daramola Ladipo, a 33-year-old beer parlour owner in Lagos, shed tears when he qualified as one of the nine initial contestants. He said, “I never believed that the show was real until I became part of it. I shed tears after the first round of the show, which qualified me to contest for the one million because I never expected I will pick one of the highest numbers. Indeed, is a game of luck. It is the joy from within me that made me cry. Even though I did not win, I have the confidence that I will win if I have the opportunity to be part of the show again. For Star, I pray the beer continues this good deed and remains strong in the market.”
Elijah Anayagher, a Benue State-based architect, won N1 million in the second edition. He recounted how a woman he had never met sat on his legs after his win, saying she had been supporting him and wanted to be his friend. Anayagher said, “I didn’t know about any draw. I was surprised when the stewards in the bar gave me the tickets. I wasn’t actually the only one because they gave everyone that was drinking Star that evening.” He added, “I can’t forget the entire experience in a hurry. I met lots of wonderful people who I didn’t know before and we just became friends. I am happy that I won the money but I will also remember the excitement of Star TV Game Show for a long time to come.”
The show, anchored by comedian Gbenga Adeyinka, features audience participation and playful taunts. As at press time, nine millionaires had emerged, and twelve more are expected to be crowned during the seven-week-long show.
