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| MTN Nigeria CEO, Brett Goshen, the Ultimate Winner, Ebube Essien-Garricks and MTN Corporate Service Executive, Wale Goodluck at the presentation of Ebubue to the press. |
In
fulfillment of its promise to Nigerians, MTN Ultimate Wonder Promo was recently
rested in a grand prize draw in Lagos, followed by a media presentation of the
grand prize winner, a student, Ms Ebube Essien-Garricks. DigitalSENSE Business
News was there and reports.
The first question
that came to mind when the name ‘Ebube’ Essien-Garricks was announced as the winner
of the MTN Ultimate Wonder Promo, was ‘what has that name Ebube got to do with
the ultimate wonder?’
To a lot of people
from the Southern parts of the country, the name Ebube means, ‘wonder’ which
literarily means “A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by
something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.
And when MTN
conceived this promo, little did the mobile communications giant predicted the
astonishment that could follow the initiative. So, it was a very warm day
penultimate Wednesday, November 14, 2012 when the grand prize draw for the MTN
Ultimate Wonder Promo was held at the headquarters of MTN Nigeria at
Falomo-Ikoyi, Lagos and a 27 year old student, Ms Ebube Essien-Garricks, became
the ‘Wonder’ ultimately to her name ‘Ebube.’
A female student
of College of Health Science and Technology, Rivers State, the 27-year old
Ebube, who was initially overwhelmed on receiving the news via a phone call and
eventually opted for the cash value of the plane, which is about N64 million.
“This must be the
best Christmas gift ever. It is truly wonderful,” she declared.
The assistant
director, Lagos zone of the Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr.
Obi Iriegbu testified to the transparency and credibility of the promo.
DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that
the promo which started in August saw a total of 1,200 people winning N150, 000
each and 12 people going home with N2 million each.
Confirming this,
the Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Larry Annetts said, the promo was credible,
transparent and interesting. “When we came out with the promo, many doubted us
but today we have an Ultimate winner who will go home with the promised Cessna
182T aeroplane,” Annetts said, emphasising MTN’s commitment towards enriching
the lives of its consumers.
Probably one of
the promos that generated much skepticism since the emergence of MTN into the
Nigeria business scene, both in the media and the general public, the MTN
Ultimate Wonder Promo ended with a student winning the ultimate prize of an
aircraft, worth N64 million.
Speaking at the
media presentation of Ebube in Lagos, the CMO further noted through the General
Manager, Consumer Marketing, Mr. Kola Oyayemi, that the promo and
presentation of Ebube is to further reiterate MTN’s commitment to enrich its
consumers.
He revealed that
the MTN will not only give Ebube the cash prize but would also engage a
financial adviser in order to guard her in making judicious use of the fund.
Ebube who
recharges her MTN line with N200 or N100 about thrice a week, said she did not
know about the promo, specifically as there were many running from various
networks and could not believe the news when she first heard it.
For Ebube, “I only
do normal recharging to enable me make calls and send SMS,” she declared,
expressing gratitude to God for using MTN to raise her and family up. “All
thanks to MTN and glory be to God,” Ebube asserted, promising to be a good
ambassador of the telecommunications operator, her family and friends.
According to her,
the money is such a big money hence she would accept the financial advisory
service that MTN would engage.
Above all, she
maintained that her study, which is in the final year must be completed and
then she could proceed to higher decrees until her Master is achieved.
“Every member of
the family deserves to be educated to Masters level,” she said.
Also speaking the
Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Wale Goodluck said the
presentation is reassuring that MTN is ready to accomplish any promise made to
Nigerians at all fronts.
He disclosed that
some detailing will be needed before formal presentation or transfer of the
fund to the winner, to ensure that she does not in any way in the future have
challenge in accessing the fund, stressing that most importantly is the fact
that the Managing Director, Mr. Brett Goshen has accepted to offer Ebube a hand
in managing the fund.
He further
expressed thank to all those who believed in MTN, assuring that the best is yet
to come from the leading mobile operator.
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| Ebubue |
One-on-One with Ebube:
What motivated the promo?
MTN CEO:
It’s the idea of
the Chief Marketing Officer, for me, I was a bit skeptical that it even
generated a lot of comments from all around Nigeria and the social media. It’s
honestly a successful promotion and we have a winner, a student in her final
year and we are delighted for that.
It’s such a huge
sum, so we offer the service of financial adviser as to what she can do and how
she can invest it. MTN Nigeria would pay for the financial advisory service.
General Manager, Consumer Marketing Manager,
MTN, Mr. Kola Oyayemi, on behalf of the Chief marketing officer (CMO)
What motivated
this promo is our brand, MTN, we do things that other brands are yet to do. No
brand in Nigeria has ever given N1billion, we did. No brand in Nigeria has ever
given an aeroplane and we said it can be done and that’s why initially there is
a whole lot of skepticism about it: is it real? Is it possible? But the
ultimate prize winner proved to everybody that when we make a promise, we always
deliver.
When she was
publicly asked if she wants the plane or the cash, and the answer was “I need
the money.” So, as we are told that the plane is $400, 000 and the Naira value
is N64milion, and it’s a promise fulfilled. This is of the can-do value of MTN
and the fact that she also shares that same value, that’s the rationale behind
the promo.
Ebube:
Am overwhelmed,
just watching everyone. Thanks to MTN and glory be to God. Am so happy, this is
something I never dreamt of, it just happen, its God, I can’t explain it.
The only thing I
do with my phone is to load credit to make calls, that’s all.
Do you know anyone in MTN, or was it
arranged?
No, nothing was
arranged. I don’t know anybody in MTN.
The last call I
received was from my family that Linda (from MTN) called that I have won an
aeroplane, and I was like its ‘419’ and I don’t want to be involved in that.
But I was told that she would call back in two minutes. She called back and I
was asking; who are you? She said she is calling from MTN that I have won an
aeroplane. An aeroplane, just like that! What did I suffer to win an aeroplane?
I called my elder
brother and he told me that I shouldn’t forget that there are 419s; that I
should make my clarification very well. When I received another call again, I
asked what they want from me but was asked if I need the aeroplane or the cash
and I said I need the cash, I need money. If I choose the aeroplane, where
would I land or where would I start. I have no business with aeroplane.
I was asked to go
to MTN Officer to take a photograph, I was thinking it’s just a passport, I
don’t know it’s something awesome I never dreamt of. I got to the reception of
Intel building and I introduced myself to the
receptionist who just shouted that the winner is here and everybody
start coming out, taking pictures with me and I was like. is this really me.
Who am I, I’m nobody.
After the
photograph, I went back home and they kept on calling, that my ticket is ready
and that I would be going with my mother, it was awesome.
Now, that you opted for the cash, what are
you going to do with the money?
I am not so
frightened about the money. The money is a lot of money and I’m still a final
year student. I need a lot of investment and once am done from school, with
this money I can buy my equipment and be self-employed.
My elder brother
dropped out of school for us, I think he needs his Masters and my elder
sisters, we all need Masters in the house and we need a big house.
MTN has offered to assist you in terms of
asset management, are you going to take that?
It’s okay by me as
I don’t know much about investment.
So, what would change about you now?
Change! I don’t
need to feel pompous, I am myself; I am not from a bragging family. I know
where I came from and I know where am going to.
Like how much can you recall that you used
in recharging your phone?
Not much, like
N200, N100, I never recharged with N1,500 or N750. I only recharge N200, N100,
just to make call, and send SMS, that’s all.
When have you been using MTN?
It’s been long,
since I know myself as a phone user.
Now you believe that the promo is true,
right?
At least with all
these people around me, it’s true.
What do you have to say to other MTN users?
Oh! Keep on using
MTN; in fact forget about other networks. I have other networks but I don’t
think I would use them again but then, they cannot afford this kind of money. I
don’t think they can do that.
As it is now you promised to be a good
ambassador of MTN from your comments?
Yes.
Congratulations!
Thank you.
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