At last, the much-awaited list of contestants that will embark on ‘The Mission’ to the Aguleri jungle for the 11th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) has been released. The contestants emerged amidst drama, suspense and fanfare at the Final Selection Party, held on Saturday, September 6, at Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Keeping to its word that the build-up to this year’s edition would be suspense-filled, the grand revelation of the evening was the increase in the number of contestants for this year’s edition to 14. The past editions featured 10 contestants, with the last featuring 12 contestants.
A total of 18 contestants that survived previous GUS elimination exercises were called up to the stage by Darey ‘Art’ Alade. This left the audience thinking that four of the contestants would still be eliminated, as Darey had earlier announced that only 10 contestants would proceed to the Aguleri jungle.
There was, however, an uproar when the duo of Walter Drenth and Hubert Eze, the Marketing Director and Sales Director, both of Nigerian Breweries Plc., jointly delivered a scroll message from the ‘Council of Elders’ to the audience, which read: “All 14 contestants on stage are to proceed to the Aguleri jungle for Gulder Ultimate Search 11.”
The Aguleri-bound contestants are: Iwuoha Ikenna, Nwagboso Joshua, Emedike Ikenna, Nne Cosy Joe, Ubachukwu Chinedu, Otto Canon Chimenem, Afolabi Emmanuel Olusegun, Iroh Noela, Appi Samantha, Erijakpor Loretta, Robinson Sharon, Eriata Blessing Ese, Addoh Evi and Nwagbagiro Sandra.
Earlier in his speech, Nicolas Vervelde, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said: “I was told that over 40,000 young men and women applied to be part of the Gulder Ultimate Search this year. They dreamt and fought to be where you are now, but you made it out of that lot; so I congratulate you for coming thus far in the competition. The journey has just begun and will not stop until one of you emerges the 11th ‘Ultimate Man’. However, having come this far, you are all winners already.”
Another interesting feature of this year’s event is that Chidi Mokeme is making a return as the Anchorman of the Gulder Ultimate Search.
On ground to add humour to the evening was ace comedian, Gordons, who did not disappoint as he reeled out one rib- cracking joke after another. To add spice to the event, fast-rising hip hop act, Burna Boy, stunned guests with a performance of his hit track, ‘Yawa Deh Oh’.
The Final Selection Party was further spiced up by a Tamura Dancer from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who thrilled the crowd with enthralling dance steps.
One of the high-points of the evening was the unravelling of the mystery behind ‘The Cube’. The past 10 winners of Gulder Ultimate Search had been summoned by the ‘Council of Elders’ to go and retrieve ‘The Cube.’
This marked the first time in the annals of Gulder Ultimate Search that all past winners of Gulder Ultimate Search would be assembled under a single roof.
The past champions who succeeded in retrieving the cube are: Ezego Egwuagwu (GUS 1 winner), Lucan Chambliss (GUS 2 winner), Hector Joberteh (GUS 3 winner), Dominic Mudabai (GUS 4 winner), Michael Nwachukwu (GUS 5 winner), Uche Nwaezeapu (GUS 6 winner), Oyekunle Oluwaremi (GUS 7 winner), Christopher Okagbue (GUS 8 winner), Paschal Eronmose (GUS 9 winner) and Dennis Okike (GUS 10 winner).
The broadcast of this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search will commence on October 3 and end on October 30, and will be aired on African Magic World (DSTV), Real -Stars (Startimes), Minaj TV Obosi (Terrestrial), Ebony Life TV (DSTV), Galaxy TV (Lagos, Ibadan and Ondo), Hip TV (DSTV & GoTV), Nigezie (Startimes) and WapTV (Startimes) between 10 pm and 11pm. It will also air on AIT Network (Terrestrial) between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm daily.
The Gulder Ultimate Search is Nigeria’s first and longest running 100% local content reality TV show.