Gulder Ultimate Search: How It Started, Its Progress and Influence in Nigeria

Gulder Ultimate Search is the first local content reality TV series in Nigeria. It’s a survival TV show where contestants undergo physically challenging tasks in a natural habitat till the last man standing clinches the winning prize.

This adventure-based competition has inspired other reality TV shows whilst influencing the perception of cultural heritage and Nigerian tourism.

Table of Contents

A Brief History of Gulder Ultimate Search: How It Started

Gulder Ultimate Search started in the year 2004, as a reality TV series where a group of contestants in the wilderness compete with each other to find a treasure and claim their ticket to fame and fortune. To help promote the Gulder Lager Beer, this TV series was sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries Plc.

The show has premiered 12 seasons, with each season and its separate themes airing on notable tourist locations across the country such as the Shere Hills of Jos, Obudu Hills in Calabar, the Stormy Hills of Mmaku in Enugu and other notable places.

Gulder ultimate search was born out of a concept to showcase Nigerian culture and heritage, the beauty of her landscape and how much mother nature has blessed us. As an avid follower of the show, I must confess that the show was an eye-opener to not just our cultural heritage but the resilience, as well as the physical and mental capacity of its citizens.

The popular show quickly gained traction with a large fan base eager to witness the contestants’ adventures and challenges. This TV series has carved out a niche in the entertainment industry, with its unique format and a new genre of reality TV in the country.

How It’s Going: The Progress of the Show

Since the inception of the Gulder Ultimate Search show in 2004, the show has had 12 seasons, with its last season being in 2021. The series is produced by Nigerian-based producer Olakunle Oyeneye together with Oluseyi Siwokwu of Jungle Filmworks.

Here’s an overview of all the seasons of the Gulder show:

The first season was produced on Snake Island in Lagos State with the theme, “The Legend of Captain Kush.” Mr Ezeugo Egwuagwu emerged as the winner of this season and clinched the grand prize of 3 million nairas.
Season 2 aired on the famous Obudu Cattle Hills in Cross River State with the theme, “The Lost Helmet of General Maximilian” and Mr Lucan Chambliss took home the star prize of 5 million naira.
NIFOR, in Edo State, was home to Season 3 with the theme, “The Brew Master’s Secret” and Mr Hector Joberteh secured the grand prize of 5 million naira and a Ford Explorer SUV.
Season 4 premiered at the Shere Hills of Jos, with its theme, “The Search for the Golden Age,” Dominic Mudabai clinched the grand prize amongst all others. However, Gulder Ultimate Search Season 4 saw the death of a contestant, Anthony Ogadje who drowned in a lake during the shoot.

Season 5 of the Gulder show took us to the Eastern part of the country as the tourist location was based in Enugu State, Nigeria. The prestigious Hills of Mmaku in Agwu, Enugu State, where Michael Nwachukwu clinched the grand prize of 5 million naira and a brand new SUV.
Gulder Ultimate Search season 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.
In 2010, Gulder Ultimate Search launched the celebrity edition of the show. The location was La Campagne Tropicana, Lekki, Lagos. Celebrity Nollywood actor Emeka Ike clinched the grand prize of Seven million naira by finding the “Golden Goblet.”
From the Celebrity edition, season 7 took off the same year at Omo Forest in Ogun state. Mr Oyekunle Oluwaremi now popularly known as “Kunle Remi” emerged as the “Ultimate Hero” of Gulder Ultimate Search Season 7.
The Kukuruku Hills, Egbetua Quarters in Ososo, Akoko-Edo Edo state was home to season 8, “The Contest of Champions,” where Mr. Chris Okagbue won the grand prize.
In 2012, the search moved to Usaka, Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom where “The Gatekeeper’s Fortune” was found by Paschal Eronmose Ojezele, who became the winner of season 9.

Season 10 was staged in the tropical forest of Usaka, Akwa Ibom, Mr. Dennis Okike found “The Tenth Symbol,” clinching the winning prize of 10 million naira and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero. Gulder Ultimate Search season 9 & 10 was directed by Laszlo Bene, the American Director currently living in South Africa.
The Gulder show season 11 was staged at 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.
From 2014, the Gulder show was indefinitely stopped for about 7 years, until 2021 when it aired its 12th season. This new season had 18 contestants, with Celebrity OAP Toke Makinwa as its host. Season 7 winner, Kunle Remi, was also the Taskmaster for the new season.

Odudu Otu clinched the grand prize for season 12, walking away with 50 million naira worth of prizes and a brand-new SUV courtesy of Innoson Motors. The theme for the season was “The Age of Craftsmanship.”

Apart from Toke Makinwa, Nollywood actors, Chidi Mokeme and Bob-Manuel Udokwu also anchored the legendary show.

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The Influence of Gulder Ultimate Search in Nigeria

One of the notable impacts of this popular show in Nigeria is the promotion of tourism. The organizers of this show take proper care in selecting tourist locations across the country for each season, exposing our beautiful landscape to the world. The idea of participants embarking on various adventures in the Nigerian wilderness is a unique concept that helps to showcase the country’s natural resources.

Gulder Ultimate Search show has also contributed greatly to the entertainment industry. From being the first local content reality show, to setting the pace for other subsequent shows, it provided a platform for young talents and creative minds to promote themselves.

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One thing I picked from this show throughout its seasons is the Nigerian spirit! The resilience, determination and doggedness of each participant, the never-give-up spirit. It’s safe to say that the show serves as some form of inspiration to many.

It imbibes the themes of perseverance, determination and teamwork. It has also subsequently promoted a healthy form of entertainment as opposed to what we see often in today’s world.

Conclusion

Gulder ultimate search has made a profound impact in Nigeria, not only in the entertainment industry but also in promoting tourism and inspiring the country’s youth. The show has helped to put Nigeria on the map as a unique and diverse destination, and its influence continues to be felt across the country. We hope to see more of it on our screens!

Edited by Priscilla Ajayi.

About Author

Oghenechovwe Eghwrudjakpo: Chovwe is content writer and a Fashion Designer. She's also a Chartered Mediator and Conciliator. She's an advocate for peace and loves art. She owns a fashion brand and is very passionate about what she does.