Actor Chidi Mokeme is back as the host of Gulder Ultimate Search Season 9 after a break of six years
Hosting GUS 9
I think it was an internal decision. I
understand a public poll was held to determine who should be the next
host of the Gulder Ultimate Search event. They listed the names of the
past anchormen and the public was carried along to make it more
interactive. At the end of the day, the result came out and my name
topped the list. When I was contacted, I didn’t hesitate to accept it.
There was no need to reject it simply because they decided to drop me
after hosting the first two editions of the show. In fact, I was
privileged to have hosted season one and two of the GUS. I always say
that the show is not all about me. The show is about the opportunities
created by the Gulder brand for youths. It was the responsibility of the
organisers to determine what direction they want to take. I was very
happy when I was given another opportunity to anchor the show. I waited
all this while, hoping that it would happen. It eventually happened and I
am glad about it. So I couldn’t have felt bitter in any way. My
relationship with Nigeria Breweries has been very cordial all the while.
Apart from GUS, we have done other things together. The organisers were
at liberty to try out any new thing they wanted to do.
Surprise package
I think will keep it a secret until the
show begins. You have to wait and let the show be unveiled. But I know
it is a different ball game this season. We know the show is going to be
a lot more exciting this year than ever. GUS 9 has broken many records
already. No fewer than 30,000 people applied to participate in the show.
It is record breaking. It hasn’t happened before. So, I know it will
be different this year. You just have to sit down and watch it.
The contestants
Each of the contestants is a potential
winner. They just have to go out there and prove themselves. Any one of
them can become a winner. It is possible for a girl to win this time.
Last year, a girl almost won. She was standing on the treasure and she
didn’t know it. Maybe she didn’t think it was possible and right under
her nose, somebody else came and took the treasure. That is the kind of
surprise we have to watch out for this year.
My new wife
I knew I just got married and here am I
in the jungle. But I know my wife will cope. She has been coping. I need
to revive my romance with the jungle. Even then, this is what I have
signed up for. This is my routine and she knows it. She appreciates what
I do and she will cope. The days are long gone when I appeared on TV
just for appearance sake. If I need to be on TV, I need to do something
that is fulfilling, that would want you to wake up in the morning and go
to work. I choose the kind of things I do now. My wife is a ‘double’
doctor. She is a Pharmacist and medical doctor. I say it with pride. Our
careers are far apart, but we understand each other. I knew she was the
woman for me from the moment I saw her. She never knew I was an actor. I
met her four years ago. I met her outside Nigeria. She is a Nigerian,
but she is a American by birth. Marriage happens when it wants to
happen. It was time for me to get married and I got married. Before now,
I hadn’t the opportunity to get married. Maybe it was because I had
other things on my mind. It finally happened when it happened.
Selling sex toys
I am a model, I own a clothes line and a
studio. Why are you interested in the shop for sex toys? Only those who
are interested in sex talk about sex toys. Sex for me is something you
keep behind closed doors. It is not something to be discussed in public.
I have not told you that I sell sex toys. So I cannot tell you if I
make money selling them.
Brand ambassador
I started as a model. My job was to
represent brands. This brand ambassadorship is becoming popular two
decades after we have been involved in it. It has caught on. Some of my
colleagues are now being endorsed by one brand or the other. I have my
own fair share of the endorsement deal. I am brand ambassador of a
telecommunications company called Zodaphone. Many things are happening
underground. Things will reveal themselves in time. We have graduated
from modelling to endorsement. I am a brand and I do endorsements now.
My acting career
I don’t think I will quit acting. There
is no retirement age when it comes to acting. As the year goes, the
opportunities available to you keep changing. I am not going to quit
acting. My principles have remained the same. The things that inspired
me to act in a movie haven’t changed. The story must be relevant. It can
be a story that I must relate and connect with. From that, I go to the
crew. I must know the people I am working with. If they are people I can
work with, then we are cool before we start talking about the fees. I
am not expensive. It depends on the project. You cannot put a limit on
the arts. I can do a film free-of-charge and I can do another for a
billion naira. I have a production outfit as well. I am sure as soon as
we are out of the jungle, I will go back and meet with my people. My
parents gave me the opportunity to acquaint myself with the whole of
Nigeria. I had my primary education in the West, I had my secondary
education in the North and I had my tertiary education in the East. I
have always been a roving person. I will give my kids that opportunity
to know all parts of the world too. I understand Yoruba and I have
appeared in a couple of Yoruba movies. I also speak Hausa. Of course, I
speak Igbo. If you pay me now, I can speak any language.
Aspiration
We are going to keep aiming for the sky.
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