GUS breaks record

Signs that this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search will be a bundle of intrigues, suspense, fun and excitement have started to manifest. Yet, the show will not be beamed on TV until Saturday, October 20, 2012.
This is because more than 30,000 individuals registered their interest to participate in Nigeria’s first reality TV show. The registration period for this year’s edition elapsed on Thursday, September 13, 2012. Now in its 9th season, the registration figure is the highest since the show commenced in 2004. Interested individuals registered on-line, via the Gulder Ultimate Search website and the official Facebook page. In addition, walk-in registration booths were set up in selected locations across the country to ease the registration process for interested individuals.


The Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Walter Drenth, ascribed the increase in registration to the popularity of Gulder Ultimate Search. He said: “The Gulder Ultimate Search status as Nigeria’s first 100% local reality TV show is legendary. It is no secret that the programme influenced other brands to leverage on reality TV to promote their brand awareness. What makes it more interesting is the fact that GUS is adventure-based, which makes it one of a kind, thereby appealing to a wider audience.”
From the large number of applicants, only 12 individuals will eventually make it to the deep forest of Usaka in Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom State location for this year’s Gulder Ultimate Search. Individuals who meet up with the entry prerequisite must still overcome the hurdles of medical and physical screening at the regional level. The regional screening exercises will be held in Benin, Makurdi, Owerri and Lagos. Indeed while the path to registration was wide, the path to GUS 9 jungle is very narrow, bumpy, treacherous and daunting.
A twist to this year’s edition is the inclusion of three past winners to play the role of Gatekeepers in Gulder Ultimate Search 9. The theme for Gulder Ultimate Search is: “The Gatekeeper’s Fortune.” The three past champions are Dominic Mudabai (Gulder Ultimate Search 4 winner), Michael Nwachukwu (Gulder Ultimate Search 5 winner), and Christopher Okagbue (Gulder Ultimate Search 8 winner).

Gulder Ultimate Search 9 will be aired on selected terrestrial and satellite TV stations from October 20 to November 16.