Gulder Ultimate Search is a Nigerian reality television series, created and sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc to promote the Gulder Lager Beer.
The first season premiered in 2004.
TV Show summary
TV Show: Gulder Ultimate Search
Genre: Reality
Also known: GUS
Host: Chidi Mokeme, Bob-Manuel Udokwu
Major sponsor: Nigerian Breweries Plc (Gulder Lager Beer)
First Premiered: 2004
Country of origin: Nigeria
Original language: English
No. of series: 11
Executive producer: Oluseyi Siwoku (Nigerian Breweries Plc)
Producer: Olakunle Oyeneye
Running time: 56 minutes
Production company: Jungle Fireworks
Original network: DSTV, NTA
Picture format: HD
Audio format: Stereo
Original release: 2004 –2014
Did You Know?
The Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) series is also the very first 100% local content reality television programme in Nigeria.
And it is a survival-type reality programme that highlights the struggle of Contestants (10–30 persons, depending on the reference edition), their struggles against themselves and the wild i.e. nature and their search for a hidden treasure that brings to the last person standing instant fame and fortune.
The Winner of the last season in 2012 took home a 10 million naira cash prize and an SUV.
Why was Gulder Ultimate Search stopped (7-years hiatus)?
GUS started in 2004 and enjoyed 11 seasons on the air. The show went on to become the most-watched reality TV series in Nigeria before it was rested in 2016.
The organisers on Wednesday officially announced that the show would make its comeback with “The Age of Craftsmanship” as the theme for the 2021 edition.
Sade Morgan, the corporate affairs director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said:
“We are really excited to be bringing back the Gulder Ultimate Search for the viewing pleasure of Nigerians who have over the years continued to call for the return of the show.
The planning team has put in place everything necessary to give the fans exactly what they enjoy about the show, and I am confident that everyone will be pleasantly surprised and delighted with what we have in store.”
Past Seasons, Locations, Storylines and Winners
GUS 1
GUS 1 was produced on the Snake Island in Lagos State. The theme was ‘The Legend of Captain Kush’ and Mr Ezeugo Egwuagwu made history as the first winner of the reality show to take home the Star Prize of 3 Million Naira.
GUS 2
Obudu Hills, Calabar Cross River played host to the 2nd Season ‘The Lost Helmet of General Maxmllian’ and Mr Lucan Chambliss took home the Star Prize of 5 Million Naira.
GUS 3
NIFOR, Benin Edo State was the venue of ‘The Brew Master’s Secret’ (Season 3) and Mr Hector Joberteh won the grand prize of 5 Million Naira and a Ford Explorer SUV.
The now-deceased Hector was shot dead at his apartment in Lagos on the morning of 3 September 2017.
GUS 4
The Shere Hills of Jos was the venue of ‘The Search for the Golden Age’ and the athletic Dominic Mudabai outpaced his contemporaries to claim the title that year.
Death of contestant
A contestant Anthony Ogadje, drowned in a lake in Jos Plateau State in GUS 4 during the shoot.
GUS 5
In the stormy hills of Mmaku in Awgu, Enugu. Mr Michael Nwachukwu found ‘The Lost Chronicle’ and exchanged it for the 5 million naira and a brand new SUV.
GUS 6
GUS 6 was taken to the western part of Nigeria in the deserted Omodo Forest of Aagba in Osun State and ‘The Horn of Valour’ was found by Mr Uche Nwaezeapu.
Celebrity Showdown
The celebrity edition was the GUS series was launched in 2010 and the location was La Campaigne Tropicana, Epe, Lagos. ‘The Golden Goblet’ was found by the Ace Nollywood Actor Emeka Ike and he goes home with the sum of seven million naira.
GUS 7
In the same year when the Celebrity Edition was done, the GUS series moved to Omo Forest, J4 Ogun State for season 7 and ‘The Ultimate Hero’ was Mr Oyekunle Oluwaremi.
GUS 8
The Kukuruku Hills, Egbetua Quarters in Ososo, Akoko-Edo Edo State won’t recover from ‘The Contest of Champions’ when Mr Chris Okagbue stunned the world by winning the 8th season.
GUS 9
2012 was the year that the search moved to Usaka, Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom where ‘The Gatekeeper’s Fortune’ was found by Paschal Eronmose Ojezele. GUS 9 was directed by Laszlo Bene, the American Director/Producer currently living in South Africa.
GUS 10
In the forest of Usaka, Akwa Ibom, Mr Dennis Okike found ‘The Tenth Symbol’ and exchanged it for the 10 million naira and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero. GUS 10 was directed by Laszlo Bene, the American Director/Producer currently living in South Africa
GUS 11
GUS 11 was in Aguleri forest in Anambra state, where ‘The General’s Helmet’ was found by Chinedu Ubachukwu. He was rewarded with 10 million naira and a brand new Ford Explorer car.
Celebrities
The selection requirements for participants include physical fitness, the ability to endure tough terrains and swim where swimming is involved.
The broadcasting of the reality television show had been due to start on Thursday.
In the show, the weakest contestants are evicted one by one until a winner or “the last man standing” emerges.
The winner gets 5 million naira ($39,000) in cash, a sport utility vehicle (SUV) and another 500,000 naira ($4,000) to buy clothes.
The prize money is a big attraction in a country where most people live in extreme poverty and benefit little from Nigeria’s oil wealth.
Previous winners have become celebrities, attracting sponsorship deals from corporate organisations.
History
From the first edition, which premiered in 2004, contestants were camped in different parts of the country to struggle against themselves and the wild, i.e. nature, and their search for a hidden treasure that brings to the last person standing instant fame and fortune.
The prize rose from N3m in the first edition to N10m and a brand new SUV in the last edition. Since it went off the air, fans have been calling for its return. And now the show is back.
In its 11-season run, the show discovered several talents who became stars in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Some of the past winners – Kunle Remi (winner of the 2010 edition), Dennis Okike (Season 8), and Chris Okagbue (Season 10) went on to build a successful career in Nollywood.
Remi, who was 22 years old when he won in 2010, starred in the Africa Magic series Tinsel, Forbidden, and several other critically acclaimed Nollywood movies like Sin City and Gold Statue. Dominic Mudabai, the winner of the fourth edition, has also appeared in numerous TV Commercials for several multinational brands.
The host of the new season is yet to be announced but previous editions of the show were anchored by Nollywood actors Chidi Mokeme and Bob Manuel-Udokwu.
Biographies of Past Winners of the Gulder Ultimate Search
Ugo Egwuagwu
Ugo Egwuagwu made history as the first winner of the first-ever GUS which took place on the Snake Island in Lagos State in 2004.
He took home the Star Prize of 3 Million Naira. Egwuagwu is currently an actor and a businessman, starring in Ultimate Warrior and Royal Castle.
He also makes footwear leather products, a venture he describes as a “family business.”
Lucan Chambliss
The second instalment of GUS, tagged “The Lost Helmet of General Maxmllian” was held in Obudu Hills, Calabar Cross River. Lucan Chambliss emerged victoriously and took home the Star Prize of 5 Million Naira.
Hector Joberteh
Hector Joberteh won the third edition of the GUS and took home the grand prize of 5 Million Naira and a Ford Explorer SUV.
Hector was unfortunately shot dead at his apartment in Lagos on the morning of 3 September 2017.
Dominic Mudabai
Dominic Mudabai won the fourth edition of the show tagged “the Search of the olden Age”.
Since winning, Mudabai has appeared in numerous ads with brands such as MTN, Etisalat, Gulder, Stanbic IBTC Pensions, Honeywell, YO’ Yoghurt and Interswitch. He also founded Wung Fitness, a fitness, health and wellness company.
Michael Nwanchukwu
In the fifth season of the show, Michael Nwanchukwu found ‘The Lost Chronicle’ and exchanged it for the 5 million naira and a brand new SUV.
Since winning, he has appeared as a “gatekeeper” in other seasons of the show.
Uche Nwaezeapu
The sixth edition of the GUS was held in Omodo Forest of Aagba in Osun State and ‘The Horn of Valour’ was founded by Uche Nwaezeapu. Nwaezeapu married Lauren Agokei in 2018.
Kunle Remi
Kunle Remi became the “Ultimate Hero in the seventh edition of the reality show, held in Omo Forest, Ogun State. Since winning, Remi has graduated from the New York Film Academy and appeared in several movies and tv shows, most notably Tinsel and Falling.
Chris Okagbue
Chris Okagbue won season 8 of the GUS, tagged “The Contest of Champions”. After the show, Okagbue has been a presenter, as well as appeared in movies and tv shows, including Tinsel, Secrets and Scandals, A Wish, and the critically acclaimed Lotanna.
Paschal Eronmose Ojezele
Paschal Eronmose Ojezele found “The Gatekeeper’s Fortune” and went home with a 9 million naira grand prize, N500,000 swagger allowance and a brand new 2012 SUV.
Dennis Okike
In the forest of Usaka, Akwa Ibom, Dennis Okike found ‘The Tenth Symbol’ and became the winner of the tenth edition. He exchanged the symbol for the 10 million naira and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero. Since winning, Okike has appeared in movies including Malaysia Boy.
Chinedu Ubachukwu
GUS 11 was held in Aguleri forest in Anambra state, where ‘The General’s Helmet’ was found by Chinedu Ubachukwu. He was rewarded with 10 million naira and a brand new Ford Explorer car. According to his LinkedIn page, Ubachukwu works as a CMMS Analyst at Chevron.
Housemates (Contestants) for Gulder Ultimate Search 2021
The contestants include – Damola Johnson, a 26-year-old Film director from Lagos, Mfon Mikel Esin, a 27-year-old Freelance writer from Akwa Ibom, Samuel Ishmael, 35-year old IT Expert from Ogun, Emmanuel Nnebe, 29-year old Paralegal from Anambra, Damilola Odedina, 25-year old Cinematographer, Solomon Yankari, 26-year old fitness Fitness Instructor from Bauchi.
Others include music artists -Olayinka Omoya, Godswill Oboh, Omokhafe Bello, Chidimma Okeibe, Jennifer Okorie, Tobechukwu Okoye, Gerald Odeka, Tosin Michael Emiola, Iniabasi Umoren.
Gulder Ultimate Search 2021 Cast Prize
The unveiled 18 contestants for Gulder Ultimate Search 2021 will be competing for the ₦50 million prize.
Voting
An online portal has also been opened for the public to vote in two more contestants.
Source: unitedshowbiz.com.gh