Sixteen of the contestants for the Gulder Ultimate Search Season 12 were unveiled at the selection party on Sunday night in Lagos. This is coming after the show was rested in 2014.
The host, Gideon Okeke, unveiled the 16 contestants to the audience. Fans are expected to vote in two more contestants from the remaining four finalists in 24 hours.
2010 winner and popular actor, Kunle Remi will be assuming the role of the taskmaster. The contestants will battle for the ₦50 million grand prizes.
The organisers had noted 20 candidates advanced to the final selection stage of GUS 12 – ‘The Age of Craftsmanship’ after a series of regional screenings in Abuja, Enugu and Lagos and Sea School screening in Lagos.
The contestants will be in the jungle to struggle against themselves and nature in their search for the hidden treasure that brings instant fame and fortune to the last person standing.
Jennifer Okorie: Known as Queen Bee, is a philosophy student at Delta State University and wants to be the first woman to win the GUS show.
In its 11-season run, no lady has won the reality show but the 22-year-old athlete wants to be the first Ultimate Woman.
Iniabasi Umoren: Iniabasi’ Saint Bond’ Umoren is a singer and music producer. He won the ‘Kill Ma Beat’ competition in 2018, and according to him, he has a production credit on DJ Cuppy’s album.
He has a black belt (Shotokan karate) and says he will be the “life of the party” during the show. If he wins the ₦50 million prize, Iniabasi plans to give back to his community through charity and promote his music career.
Tobechukwu Okoye: He is a 26-year-old technician, car tracker installer and student.
According to him, he plans to change his career and family’s current situation if he wins the GUS Season 12.
Solomon Yankari: Solomon Yankari is a 26-year-old fitness instructor, personal trainer and owns a fitness centre in Bauchi state.
He loves to explore, the reason why he hikes and organises boot camps for fitness enthusiasts. He is working towards building a fitness and music community.
He plans to build one of the biggest fitness brands in Africa that offer health and fitness services if he wins the GUS N50 million prize.
Chidimma Okeibe: She is a 29-year-old project assistant who says she is on the show for the adventure and to achieve a better life.
Having participated in students politics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Chidimma believes she has the leadership qualities to win the ultimate prize.
Emmanuel Nnebe: The 30-year-old paralegal, model and actor was the Face of Sapphire 2020. He is self-motivated with a desire to be a lawyer someday. According to him, he’s on the show because of the money and his love for adventure.
He plans to start a fashion school and a law firm if he wins GUS Season 12.
Damilola Odedina: Damilola Opeoluwa Odedina is a 25-year-old cinematographer and video editor.
He is a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and plans to challenge herself on the show. With a height of 6ft, Damilola towers above a number of the other contestants. He intends to use the prize money to contribute to the development of sports in the country.
Adedamola Johnson: He is a digital marketer, filmmaker and a graduate of the University of Lagos. James Cameron, the famous Hollywood director, inspires him, and he intends to spend the prize money to boost his filmmaking career.
He also plans to challenge himself on the show and leverage exposure from the platform.
Samuel Ishmael: He is a 35-year-old IT expert with a multinational company in Nigeria. He had made five attempts in the past to be on the GUS show but failed.
Now that he is here after several years of trial, Samuel hopes to be a brand ambassador for Gulder and he believes we should ‘never give up on things you find achievable.’
He loves mountain climbing and has climbed three mountains. He plans to climb four mountains before the middle of 2022.
Omokhafe Racheal Bello: She is a 34-year-old realtor and entrepreneur. She is a microbiology graduate from Ahmadu Bello University and owns a soap brand.
She hopes to establish her cosmetic business and poultry farm if she emerges as the Ultimate Woman.
Godswill Oboh: The 25-year-old businessman is a graduate of Electrical Electronics. Also known as Oreva, he is an MC and runs his own event lighting company, which he founded in 2019.
Oboh plans to set up a standard fitness centre and standardise his event lighting business if he wins the GUS ₦50 million prize.
Gerald Odeka: Known as Speedstar, Odeka is a 35-year-old athlete. He won gold, silver and bronze at the 2012 edition of the National Sports Festival and was at the World Athletics Championship in Russia in 2013.
He plans to run a sporting bar, return to school and set up a business for his wife if he wins.
Esitima Edem: Is a 24-year-old hostess and a graduate of accounting from the University of Port Harcourt. The aspiring model hopes to become the first female winner of Gulder Ultimate Search.
Olayinka Omoya: The 26-year-old music artist, writer and content creator is a graduate of Bowen University.
He hopes to be an A-list musician, redefine pop music, and invest the prize in his music if he becomes the Ultimate Man.
Emiola Tosin: He is a 33-year-old civil servant based in Abuja and married with a daughter.
This is his 5th attempt to be part of GUS and he doesn’t plan to play second fiddle but be the Ultimate man.
The Ahmadu Bello University graduate hopes to use the GUS prize money to establish a tomato paste factory.
Mikel Mfon Esin: The freelance writer, model and ardent supporter of Arsenal likes adventure, writing and reading. He says he is a Casanova and considers himself uniquely charming.
In 2013, he made it to the final selection stage of GUS but was not selected as a contestant, and now he is determined to make the most of it.
Gulder Ultimate Search (also called GUS) is a Nigerian reality television series, created and sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc to promote the Gulder Lager Beer. The first season premiered in 2004. The GUS series is also the very first 100% local content reality television programme in Nigeria. It is a survival-type reality programme that highlights the struggle of Contestants (10–30 persons, depending on the reference edition), their struggles against themselves and the wild i.e. nature and their search for a hidden treasure that brings to the last person standing instant fame and fortune.
