…as Kalu relishes Ultimate Conquest
HAVING outsmarted his fellow contestants in the waters of Usaka River, Dennis Okike brought the Gulder Ultimate Search full circle as he emerged the 10th champion. In the final battle among the warriors, Dennis got the better of Dr. Edmund Umeabuani and Ifunanya Onike as he sought out the 10th symbol.
For his feat, Dennis won N10 million and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0L GLS AT (full Option) courtesy of CFAO Motors Nigeria, the official automotive partners of Gulder Ultimate Search 10. Being the last female contestant standing, Ifunanya is already guaranteed N1 million in addition to her prize money.
In the same vein, Kalu Kalu, a final year student of Industrial Mathematics in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, became the winner of the first-ever fans’ edition of Gulder Ultimate Search.
On the final day of the search, the warriors got a message from the Council of Elders ordering them to pack their bags and make their way to where they draw water as host, Chidi awaited them and gave them the next set of instructions.
The final task was to search for the 10th symbol. To do that, each of them would make use of a clue which would take them to two different locations to retrieve two pieces of the map that would lead to where the 10th symbol was buried. Another clue at their first locations would direct them to the next location. It was a race against time and the last man to the next location was evicted.
Edmund and Ifunanya’s first clue led them to the Place of the Talking Drum to retrieve the first map piece; while Bobby and Dennis went to the Mud Field. Subsequently, Bobby and Dennis headed to the Place of the Talking Drum for their second piece while Edmund and Ifunanya raced to the Mud Field. Edmund returned first, followed by Ifunanya. Dennis edged Bobby out of the quest when he beat him to the finish line. Bobby was instantly evicted.
With their maps pieced together, the remaining warriors had all they needed to proceed to find the Sceptre. On their maps three spots were marked ‘X’ as possible places the 10thsymbol was buried. Ifunanya was in the lead, having figured out the direction first. However, her first attempt at crossing the river with the aid of a rope saw her falling into the water while Edmund and Dennis moved on.
Edmund arrived first and headed straight to one of the spots marked on the map and began his search. Dennis joined shortly. Ifunanya had barely stepped in the river when Dennis raised what turned out to be a false alarm. All he had was a piece of debris lying under the river. The protracted search had the warriors glancing at their maps intermittently as Dennis kept digging up dirt after dirt from the river.
After many futile efforts, Dennis eventually dug up the Sceptre from under a slant palm tree in the river and thereby ended the long search for the 10th symbol. He was instantly inducted into the Order of Heroes as the 10th Ultimate Man by Chidi Mokeme, the Anchor-man.
The fans’ edition of Gulder Ultimate Search was hosted by Bob Manuel Udokwu. Gulder gave fans and viewers of the show a chance to compete in the show from the comfort of their homes.
To qualify, contestants bought bottles of Gulder beer and looked under the crown corks for unique codes. The codes were then sent to a short code along with the consumer’s name, age and state. The consumers receive SMS with questions from clues related to the GUS 10 transmitted on TV.
Consumers who correctly answered six questions got the opportunity to answer the Anchor man’s challenge which was released on the seventh day by 11pm. Mouth-watering prizes such as Gulder gift packs, units of DSTV Walkas, 300 Dual-Sim Android Phones, 50 Tablets and millions worth of recharge cards were won by viewers that successfully answered the Anchor man’s challenge.
By the fourth week, the first 12 that correctly answered the Anchorman’s Challenge were invited to participate in the one-day Final Search. For winning the first ever fans’ edition, Kalu, got a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0L GLX MT, courtesy CFAO motors.
Commenting on his victory, Kalu said: "I feel very happy to be the winner of the first GUS fans’ edition; the first Ultimate Conqueror. It is a dream-come-true. My friends started calling me Ultimate Conqueror when I told them I was coming for the search. I took the risk of a night journey to get here for the search and it was very stressful. I can’t explain how I feel right now."
Kalu remarked that he had fervently participated in the promo from its inception. He explained: "Right from the first week of the promo I’ve been winning. I won the Gulder pack in the first week. In the second week, I won a DSTV walka and now in the final week I have won the jeep; I think this first fans’ edition was just for me. When I got the call that I made it into the final 12, I was so excited that I didn’t realise when I threw my phone away."
On whether he thought he was going to win at the inception, he said: "I did not have any strategy for winning per se. It was just God. At the final stage where I had to search for the treasure with two other people, I had to go back to the starting line three good times. At a point I even used sand to cover where I eventually found the box."
On how he’ll make use of the car, he said: "I intend to use the car. The lodge where I live in Owerri is very far from school and I spend a lot on transportation. Even my parents were considering getting me a car but now they don’t have to bother again. Besides, I want to drive it and let people see that this is real. I thank Gulder for this opportunity. And to everyone out there, this is real, there is no gimmick."
Kalu is an indigene of Ohafia in Abia State and also the President of FUTO chapter of National Association of Mathematics Student of Nigeria. His father is a Civil Engineer while his mother is a trader. He is the third son of eight children.
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