‘The search is real and tough’

Michael Nwachukwu

— Michael Nwachukwu, winner, 2008 edition of the annual Guilder Ultimate Search (Gus-V)
How did you get to know about the show?
I was trying to apply for my Masters degree programme both locally and abroad when I stumbled on the Gus -V advert on net, so I decided to register.
Now that you have won, are you going to abandon the programmer?
No. My academics is very important to me because I need to show a very good example to those who are coming behind me.
Your father a while ago told me that he will want you to pursue your education to the doctorate level. Do you have such ambition?
Yes, right from when I was small, a lot of emphasis was placed on education because we need more educated people in my clan. Right now, I am the first graduate in my family and I will want a situation whereby my cousins, nieces, et cetera, would look at me as an example and want to achieve as much– or even more–than what I have achieved.
At the last moment of the search, Adamu Frank was in front of you. What was going on in your mind, did you think you had lost the top prize?
A lot of people had told me that I am too quiet and always behind. But it was God’s intervention. I didn’t like to be in front all the time because I use it to study my opponents, moves. I was always following them behind to measure their speed and mental strength.
You finally found the treasure buried right under your feet. It was as if someone had told you that it was there?
A lot of impression has been made, indicating that perhaps, the show is stage-managed. My only advice to these category of people is that they should apply and come see themselves. The cameras are there but you don’t see it, no one talks to you, you are just there on your own; no one came to me to say “I want you to be the ultimate man.” I could have gone to Frank. It was devine intervention, one, and common sense, two. Because when I was on that spot, there was no direction so I decided to search the jungle. I knew we were searching for a book, so it could be on a tree or buried in the ground. When I came on the ground from the ropes I was looking for Adamu to know where he was, so I won’t follow his trail. It rained that day, so the ground was wet. I then noticed that where I was standing, on my left, the ground was hard while on my right it was soft. I even went further to check the ground around to be sure and I found out that it was hard. So, I started scratching the soil with my foot then found a fibre rope. What was I sure I was looking for there? I asked myself, so I drew it out but I wasn’t sure if what I had drawn out was really what we were looking for, so I didn’t celebrate but instead took it straight to the anchor man to confirm. When he did, I went mad.
You seem to be a religious person. At one time, you were seen praying on a tree. Did you even go as far as fasting before coming to the camp?
No, I think if I had done that I wouldn’t have been able to perform well in the search. Even in the camp, we eat what came our way, either edible or not as long as we had something in our system.
We saw some of the guys in the camp warming up with some of the women. Did you also have a soft-spot for one of the ladies?
Unfortunately, no, because I went into the search to win the treasure. I had a lot of pressure on me to win. Even right now, I still do not have a love interest among them. I don’t have a girlfriend presently and I intend to remain single.
With such money and the suv, you may soon have your hands full with women.
They didn’t look at me when I didn’t have all these, so why should I look at them now.
What are you going to do with your money?
Number one, I will pay my tithe, give my offerings, give to charity and then invest.
Are you sure you are going to pay a whole N700, 000 as tithe?
Of course, I will even invite you to my church, I am a Roman Catholic.