2011 Gulder Ultimate Search, a reality television show, ends with Christopher Okagbue crowned in a colourful ceremony in Benin, as the new hero after beating 29 contestants to emerge the winner

After spending 13 gruelling weeks in the undulating plains and plateau of Ososo Mountains, Edo State, in a battle of wit and strength, Christopher Okagbue, a 300-level Sociology student of the University of Lagos, emerged the winner of this year’s Gulder Ultimate Search season eight. The Anambra State-born champion defeated 29 others to become the ultimate hero.

His winning came as a surprise to fans who had been following the reality television show. Even Okagbue said he actually surprised himself with his feat in a competition that requires high level of intelligence quotient and physical strength. “I didn’t think I was going to be the winner. I knew I was going to go far. I just kept telling myself that I would just give my best and go as far as I can. But I didn’t expect that I was going to turn out the winner because I was one of the smallest contestants in the competition. It was a shock to me. I really surprised myself,” Okagbue said.

Okagbue was later crowned the ultimate hero in a colourful ceremony held at Best Western Homville Hotel, Benin, Edo State, December 12. There, he was handed the key of a ford explorer, estimated at the cost of N10 million, a cheque of N7.5 million and 24-carat gold necklace. 

But Okagbue was not the only one who surprised fans of GUS8 with his thrilling performance. Anastasia Azike, the only woman standing in the competition, also made history by her superlative performance in the show, earning her the second position after Okagbue.  In fact, Okagbue defeated her in the final task of the competition by sheer luck because the task that saw her eviction did not require mental nor physical strength. All that was required was sheer luck. The two of them who were the remaining contenders in the show, were asked to look for a hidden treasure at a given location in the jungle. After a lengthy search, Azike criss-crossed the crown severally but not noticing that it was there. When Okagbue came from behind to her position, he spotted the treasure and that confirmed him the ultimate hero.

 Azike, a graduate of chemical engineering, could not hide her disappointment after losing the crown to Okagbue. She so wanted to prove that she was fit enough to be crowned the ultimate hero in a competition that has been dominated by men.  Long before she came to the jungle of Ososo for the show, Azike had prepared herself for the GUS with adequate physical exercises that developed her physical strength.  She also developed a stoic philosophy that whatever she placed her mind on, she would give it her best to get it. To her, it really paid off. “I defeated all the boys except the ultimate hero,” she proudly told Newswatch. 

For her effort as the second winner in this year’s GUS8, she was rewarded with N2.5 million and another N1 million for being the only woman standing.  She also got a 24-carat gold which was given to all the 10 finalists.

Kevin Durst, who at the end of the show made more enemies than friends because of his blunt remarks to fellow contestants, finished third and was rewarded with a cash prize of N1 million and a 24-carat gold. The Delta State-born contestant had at the beginning of the show declared to his mates that he was in the jungle to make money and not to make friends. That pitted him against the other contestants. But towards the end of the show, the 23-year-old who was educated in the US, started falling in love with Promise Ojiegbe, his fellow contestant. 

Other contestants, who also came with high expectations but had their hopes dashed included Anthony Igwe, an unemployed graduate from Abia State. He finished fourth and was rewarded with a cash prize of N800, 000. Fejiro Ejogbamu and Tony Horsefall both finished fifth. They both suffered double eviction after failing a task. They got N750, 000 each. Ojiegbe finished sixth and left with N700, 000 while Sunday Gyang, a medical student from Plateau State, was seventh and got N650, 000. Alawoki Olanrewaju finished eight with a cash prize of N550, 000. Patience Ihongbe, who was the first to be evicted in the contest of champions, got a cash reward of N500, 000. The 20 other contestants who didn’t make it to the contest of champions, were given N150,000 each.