Media personality Frank Edoho has revealed that he earned a relatively small salary during his early years as host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, despite appearing glamorous and successful on television.
Speaking during a seminar in a video uploaded to his Instagram page on Tuesday, Edoho said he was paid just over ₦100,000 monthly for the first two years of hosting the hit game show.
“On Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, the first two years of my salary per month was a hundred and something thousand naira. But I had to wear a suit as if I owned all the money,” he said.
He explained that things changed financially after MTN joined the show as a sponsor, prompting him to renegotiate his contract.
According to Edoho, he approached the owner of the production company with a new salary demand, even though he was unsure it would be accepted.
“When MTN came on, I just said, let me just give a figure to my boss… He said, ‘How much are you going to be paying?’”
Although he kept the exact figure private, Edoho said the agreement exceeded his expectations and also came with three months of back pay.
“Once I mentioned the figure, okay, we’ll give you three months’ back pay,” he recalled.
The veteran broadcaster added that his career opportunities expanded significantly afterward, with more event hosting jobs and increased travel.
“The rewards came in. I was hosting events all over the place. I was flying and doing all kinds of things,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey, Edoho noted that success required persistence through difficult moments and learning how to remain focused despite challenges.
His comments have since sparked conversations online, with many Nigerians comparing the value of ₦100,000 in the mid-2000s to present-day economic realities.
