Mr Nigeria organisers question Nwokolo’s ‘poor girls’ remark on Honest Bunch

Silverbird Group, the entertainment company behind the Mr. Nigeria Supranational pageant, has announced that it is investigating the controversy surrounding  Ugo Nwokolo, the current titleholder.

The controversy began in January when Nwokolo appeared on the Honest Bunch podcast, hosted by Nedu, an on-air personality.

During the interview, Nwokolo sparked a public backlash when he said “poor girls turn me on” and that “the poorer the girl, the more attracted I am to her”.

Following the backlash, Nwokolo claimed that he was manipulated into making the comments by Nedu, alleging that he was pressured to say something controversial to generate virality.

However, the Honest Bunch podcast denied the claims, stating that Nwokolo’s comments were “not coerced”.

In response to the controversy, Silverbird Group released a statement on Friday, announcing that it is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the matter.

The media company emphasized its commitment to transparency, integrity, and excellence in its pageant system.

Silverbird reaffirmed the credibility of its selection process, stating that the Mr. Supranational Nigeria competition follows a rigorous, independent, and merit-based selection process judged by a diverse panel of industry professionals.

The company concluded its statement by assuring the public that it will share updates on the investigation as necessary.

“In light of recent discussions surrounding the selection process of Mr. Supranational Nigeria and its titleholder – Ugochukwu Nwokolo, we find it necessary to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to transparency, integrity, and excellence in our pageant system,” the statement reads.

“While we respect the freedom of expression, we encourage responsible journalism and fact-based discourse to ensure that public narratives remain fair and accurate.

 “We stand firmly against any misrepresentation of our organization, our processes, or our winners.

“The Mr. Supranational Nigeria competition follows a rigorous, independent, and merit-based selection process, judged by a diverse panel of industry professionals.

“Our organization stands by the credibility of this process and the values we uphold.

“Furthermore, we want to assure the public that we are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent discussions involving Ugochukwu Nwokolo.

 “Our team is gathering evidence and reviewing all available information to fully understand what transpired.

“Updates on this investigation will be shared accordingly.

“As an internationally recognized brand, silverbird Group remains committed to empowering young men and women with leadership, community impact, and global representation opportunities.”