25th October, 2010
Nigerian Breweries Plc, through its Gulder Brand, celebrated the success story of the 12 Nigerian youths who excelled greatly in this year’s edition of its most watched adventurous reality television game show, The Gulder Ultimate Search with a total sum of N16, 450, 000 cash prize and a N10million worth of SUV last Saturday in Lagos.
The 12 contestants who had gone through thick and thin for 21 days in the dreaded Omo- Forest in Ogun State, were presented to members of the public at a red carpet event on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at the prestigious New Expo Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The occasion, which was marked with fanfare, was anchored by the celebrity Nollywood actor and the programme presenter, Mr. Bob-Manuel Udokwu.
The 12 contestants came in straight from the jungle where they had been hibernating, contesting against one another for the past 21 days. They were so elated to see such a mammoth quality crowd including family members waiting to receive and celebrate with them.
The audience was thrilled and cheering when the exploits of the 12 warriors were being televised on a very large television screen, right inside the New Expo Centre.
After much wining and dining, the moderator started inviting the contestants out. One after the other, they filed out heroically in the order of their evictions in the programme. Their winning prize was cash prize and an 18 carat gold chain that symbolically admits each of them into Gulder Ultimate Search’s Hall of Fame.
The first contestant to be called out was 22-year old, Rivers State-born Dandison Strongface. He was the first to be evicted and he went home with N350, 000 cash prize and the 18 carat gold necklace. Strongface was followed by Tonia Oduah, younger sister to the first runners-up in the 2009 edition of the programme, Melvin Oduah. She went home with N400, 000 and the gold necklace.
Next in the order of eviction was 24-year old Simeon Okorougo, a professional model. He was honoured with the gold necklace and N450, 000 cash prize. On his trail was Sabdat Bamitale Ahmed who was nicknamed Mama Jungle when they were together in the camp. The 27-year old professional basketball player went home with half a million naira and the 18 carat gold necklace.
The fifth evictee to be invited on stage was Ofoegbu Ozioma. The 23-year old graduate of Geology smiled home with a cash prize of N550, 000 and an 18 carat gold necklace. Following Ozioma was the cantankerous Mercy Itohan Ebhodaghe, the 23-year old College of Education graduate of Theatre Arts. She was one of the most popular contestants in the search. Mercy smiled home with the Gulder Ultimate Search Hall of Fame’s 18 carat gold necklace and a cash prize of N600, 000.
The next evictee was Oduche Adaobi, a 22-year old fresh graduate who exhibited so much energy that put men on their toes during some of their energy sapping tasks. Adaobi went home with the sum of N650, 000 and the 18 carat gold neck chain.
The next contestant to be invited on stage was the most interesting female contestant who ended up becoming the Last Girl Standing. She is Caroline Ukachi Mbanu, a 22-year old Imo State-born amazon. Caroline went home with N1million cash prize as The Last Girl Standing and N700, 000 for her fifth position on the order of rank in the search. In addition to that was the 18 carat gold neck chain.
Coming fourth was the 22-year old Chukwuma Anyanwu who took time off from his school, University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom to come and participate in the adventurous search for fame and fortune.
Chukwuma was a spectacle to behold when his father, a red cap Igbo chief jumped on stage and embraced his son who was apparently shocked to see him. His father was so proud of him that he removed his muffler (his traditional mantle) made of tiger skin and placed it round his son’s neck. The young warrior went home with N750, 000 cash prize and the 18 carat gold neck chain.
Jointly called on stage were Adeleke Oshimade and Atiku Abubakar Kadiri. Both are 23-year old from Ogun and Edo State respectively. The two warriors were ranked second in the adventurous 21 days competition and therefore went home with N2 million each. They were also decorated with the 18 carat gold necklace each.
The last person to be called on stage was the Last Man Standing in the search, Oluwaremi Oyekunle. He is The Ultimate Hero and winner of the 2010 Gulder Ultimate Search. His entrance was heralded by so much razzmatazz and fanfare. He was given a standing ovation while he danced into the hall with a swinging gait. The 23-year old Ekiti State-born under graduate was highly honoured.
The Last Man Standing was joined on stage by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde and his wife Clementine. With them also on stage was another senior management staff of the company Mrs. Caroline Wymenga.
Mr. Vervelde announced a cash prize of N7million, plus N500, 000 wardrobe allowance and a N10 million market prize Ford Explorer for the Ultimate Hero, Oluwaremi Oyekunle. Immediately after the announcement, the stage was thrown open and one of the nation’s upcoming music stars, Dr. Sid took over the stage and together with the other contestants, started singing and dancing with the champion, Oyekunle.
