Odudu: The ‘Wild Card’ That Became Ultimate Search Winner, Model For Resilience 

The 2021 Guilder Ultimate Search came to an exhilarating finish on Boxing Day with Odudu Otu emerging winner of the Season 12 of the competition tagged ‘Age of Craftmanship’.

What was striking is the fact that Odudu Otu only emerged a warrior ( one of 18 contestants) as one of the wildcards who only joined the team on the day of the unveiling.

This writer had met with the maiden winner of the competition, Ezeugo Egwuagwu on several occasions at his former Egbeda abode in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos before he moved to the highbrow Lekki and his humility was admirable.

Odudu Otu gave the impression from afar anyway of possessing such qualities that will endear fans, watchers and big organizations who would wish to hand them ambassadorial duties.

Odudu was never considered a strong candidate for the big prize of N50M worth of prizes and an SUV plus a return ticket to Dubai until he won the 14th task in the jungle.

More than 20,000 Nigerians had applied for this season’s Gulder Ultimate Search regional selection process before those who made the longlist were sent to the Sea School.

Ultimately, 20 of them made the cut with 16 of them confirmed. Odudu was one of the last four who were considered as wildcards.

The host, Toke Makinwa, asked the wildcards to identify themselves and urged them to make the best use of that opportunity. Odudu was intentional with his moves and efforts in the jungle which yielded dividends.

In the final episode of the show broadcast on DSTV on Boxing Day, Odudu emerged winner of the 2021 edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search after finding the Chest which contains the secret of the proverbial Akolo’s secret brew.

The story of the Odudu Otu has proven indeed there is dignity in labour and that hard work, grace and consistency pay.