Gulder Ultimate Search: Episode 28 (Paschal Ojezele Is GUS 9 Champion!!!)

Paschal Eronmose Ojezele emerged the winner of Gulder Ultimate Search 9, making him the 9th champion of Nigeria’s first 100 per cent local content reality TV show. He narrowly edged out Onyinye Udodi who is the last female contestant standing. Incidentally, Onyinye narrowly missed out being the first female to win the popular competition which has always been won by the male folk from inception in 2004 till date.

On the last day of the competition, four contestants remained. They were Paschal, Onyinye, James Adah and Nuhu Zigwayi. The hunt for the treasure started in the morning when all four, who had spent the night at an old oil mill, were directed to assemble at the mouth of an old fire bridge. After travelling for hours, they arrived at the location where they were subjected to their first challenge.

They were given a riddle to solve, after which they were to race to a table which had broken pieces of a calabash. Piecing the broken pieces of calabash led the contestants to six palm trees which had three pieces of maps which they had to retrieve to ensure their continuation in the race. Paschal solved the riddle first and retrieved the first map. He was followed by Onyinye. Both James and Nuhu solved the riddles at the same time, but James beat Nuhu to retrieving the map, hence, Nuhu got evicted on the spot.

Onyinye, James and Paschal were asked to merge the pieces of the map which they obtained. The complete map showed directions of their journey path to where the treasure was hidden. During the journey, they made use of carabenas to slide across a river. They also came across a rope bridge which they crossed. They then shot through a pot using a bow and arrows, to retrieve a key which opened a bamboo gate, leading them to the Gatekeeper’s territory.

By sunset, James, Onyinye and Paschal met with Chidi Mokeme, the Anchor man, who subjected them to another challenge. They were to fill in the blank spaces of a puzzle which comprised of all the clues which were strategically placed in their camp, while they were in the jungle.

Paschal solved the riddle first, followed by Onyinye. The inability of James to complete the puzzle led to his eviction. The Anchor man then informed both Paschal and Onyinye that the clue to finding the Gatekeeper’s fortune, the treasure which they sought, was in the puzzle which they had just solved.

The solved puzzle read: From where you draw your liquid of life, that is where you start your final stride. Run along the path of green and stone, and where you lay your head, you call your home, the treasures sleeps deep rooted within your soul; deeper than the bamboo that grows ever so low.

The puzzle led both Onyinye and Paschal back to the last camp which was their abode, before they were asked to spend their last night in the oil mill. Paschal started searching behind the bench which they sat on.

Onyinye raced to the spot where the contestants used to sleep and lifted up the mats. Had she lifted up the bamboos and dug the ground, she may have won the prize. But she left the place and raced to the contestants’ former camp.

Paschal then moved to where Onyinye had started searching, lifted the bamboos and started digging, till he dug out the Gatekeeper’s Fortune.

For his feat, Paschal will cart home the N9 million grand prize, N500,000 swagger allowance and a brand new 2012 SUV. He will be formally presented with his prizes later today at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the reveal party. Governor Godswill Akpabio is expected to be the special guest of honour. Onyinye however gets the sum of N4 million as total prize money – made up of N3 million for emerging second placed contestant and N1 million for emerging Gulder Ultimate Search last female contestant standing.

Other contestants who had earlier been evicted on the programme were: Uzor Osimpka, Ifet Iniobong, Priscillia Ezeh, Michael Ogbuefi, Patience Bornford, Ujam Emmanuel, Ayo Ojueromi and KofyaBrown.

Gulder Ultimate Search is the flagship sponsorship property of the Gulder brand, from the stables of Nigerian Breweries Plc. It is Nigeria’s longest-running 100 per cent local content reality TV show, which has been running since 2004.