Frank Edoho has finally addressed the long-standing mystery surrounding the end of the popular Nigerian quiz show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, revealing that the show's conclusion was not due to his performance but rather the withdrawal of its longtime sponsor following a hefty fine from the Federal Government.
During a candid appearance on The KK Show, Edoho dismissed reports that he was sacked from the show, clarifying the true circumstances that led to its suspension after 13 years on air.
The Sponsor's Withdrawal: A Decade-Long Partnership Ends
Edoho explained that the show had enjoyed the support of a single sponsor for a decade, but a significant financial penalty imposed by the Federal Government forced the company to pull out.
"Our sponsor stayed with us for a decade sponsoring the show. I think the Federal Government fined them based on some industry…I think it was just like a punitive measure for one corporate thing that happened," he said.
The fine was so substantial that the sponsor had no choice but to end its involvement with the show entirely. Edoho recounted the sponsor's message: "They said, 'Hey guys, we can't do this anymore based on the fact that we have to pay an incredible sum of money back to the Federal Government.'"
He declined to name the sponsor or provide further details about the nature of the penalty, but the impact was clear: the show could no longer continue in its existing form.
False Reports of Sacking: Edoho's Response
When the show eventually returned with a new sponsor, Edoho was notably absent from the relaunch, prompting a newspaper to speculate that he had been dismissed. Edoho refuted these claims, stating they were baseless.
"I felt I was thrown under the bus after all the years I put in," he said, expressing his frustration at the unfounded reports.
Edoho had hosted Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for 13 years, from 2004 until his resignation in September 2017. His tenure made him a household name in Nigeria, but he noted that fame came more readily through television than radio.
"Once you can work on radio for four years but not get as much popularity or fame as you would if you worked on TV for one month," he remarked, reflecting on his earlier career at Radio Nigeria, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, where he spent four years.
The Show's Return and Edoho's Comeback
In 2022, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire returned after a five-year hiatus with a revamped cash prize and new sponsors. Edoho made a comeback to the programme, putting to rest speculation that his relationship with the show had permanently ended.
His return was welcomed by fans who had long associated the show with his charismatic hosting style. The show's revival marked a new chapter, but the mystery of its initial end had remained unresolved until now.
Edoho's revelation sheds light on the corporate and regulatory pressures that can influence television programming, even for one of Nigeria's most beloved shows.
