Airtel Rewards Feel Free Promo Winners in Lagos

By Emmanuel Otokhine

• Winners receive N1m Cash Prizes, LCD TVs, Blackberry Phones

Lagos, March 24, 2011 – leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria yesterday in Lagos, presented various prizes, including Blackberry Smart Phones with data package, brand new Samsung LCD Television sets and N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira) cash each, to the winners from the first two draws of the on-going Airtel Feel Free Promo.

The 18 winners who are residents of Lagos were rewarded at a colourful prize presentation ceremony held at Planet One in the State. The ceremony was attended by the Consumer Protection Council, friends and family members of the winners, and the media and partners of Airtel as well as staff of the mobile operator.

The winners who were presented with their winnings included a pensioner, Mrs. Oluremi Benson, who received N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira) cash prize; a Nine Year-Old Master Tamilore Keshinro, who collected a brand new Samsung LCD Television set and Mr. Okolo Umunali, a Travel Consultant who went home with N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira) cash prize in his wallet.

Other lucky customers who collected N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira) cash prize each are A Warrant Officer with the Nigerian Air force in Ikeja, Adeyemi Osunbade, a secondary school teacher in Ikotun in Lagos, Mrs. Christina Ebeye, an office assistant in Onikan, Lagos, Mr. Sukunmi Balogun and Mr. Gabriel Odibe, an Ojodu, Lagos based Businessman.

Additionally, several other winners such as Mr. Oluniyi Oshoba, a Politician, Mr. Ayuba Odunsi, a student with hearing and speaking challenges, Mr. Mark Ekanem, Mr. Alex Martins Anyanwu, Mr. Mathew Ofia, and a servant, Mr. Rasaki Kasali collected a brand new LCD television set each.

Also, five other winners received a Blackberry smartphone each: a job seeker based in Egbeda, Lagos, Mrs. Bukunola Babatunde Kasali, an Editor in Idi-araba, Lagos, Mr. Edward, a Merchant Navy, and Mr. Charles Nwaobi, Freight Forwarder.

Keshinro, however, stole the show not just because he was the youngest winner at the event; but because he told an emotional story when he was asked by the compere if he ever dreamt of winning in the SMS offer.

“I remembered that I felt really bored on a certain day. I later received an SMS from Airtel that same day, informing of the SMS Trivia game. It looked really fun and I was extremely happy because I love answering questions just as I love challenges. So, I started responding to all the questions, since it was a bonanza and there was no cost for sending SMS to the 333 short-code. To my surprise, I got a call much later from an Airtel Customer Care Consultant, informing me that I have won a Samsung LCD TV,” Keshinro said in a soft albeit confident, emotional-laden voice.

In his submission, Mr. Okolo said he will invest his N1, 000,000.00 (one million naira) winning just as he thanked Airtel Nigeria for fulfilling its pledge to its customers. “This is my first time ever of winning in a promo. I am so, so excited. I want to tell everyone that cares to listen that the Airtel's 'Feel Free' Promo is real and I'm happy that I have won,” the Travel Consultant said.

Airtel Feel Free Bonanza is a two-pronged SMS promotion: “Airtel Feel Free” which allows customers to send SMS free of charge to a short code, 333, and “Airtel 2Good club” which requires customers to send the key word to 444. Customers who participate in the free Promo (Airtel Feel Free Promo) have the opportunity to win LCD Television sets while those take part in the “Airtel 2Good club” promo will have the chance to win any of the cash prizes of N1,000,000.00 each, Blackberry smartphones and data bundle. Participation in 2Good Club attracts a daily charge of N100.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Marketing Officer of Airtel Nigeria, George Andah said there are yet many more prizes to be won before the Bonanza will come to an end on May 31, 2011.

He explained that apart from several Nigerians who have various prizes in other locations of the country, there are still 72 N1,000,000.00 (one million naira) cash prizes, 72 brand new LCD television sets, 72 Blackberry smartphones, numerous data bundles, SMS bundle, and ringtones.

Andah, said Airtel has brought innovation into the conduct of promotions in the country, adding that Airtel Feel Free Promo is the first in the history of promotion in the Nigerian telecommunications industry that is absolutely free. According to him, Airtel always ensure its Promos are transparent, open and fair, stressing that the company's promotions are always supervised by a leading process and applications audit firms, in addition to being closely monitored by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

“I will like to emphasize that at airtel, we believe in providing our customers with relevant innovative and affordable products and services. We are constantly seeking new and improved ways to give our customers a better communication experience. We are committed to building the best voice and data network in Nigeria inspired by our vision of being to be the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians,” Andah said.

To register and participate in the Feel Free phase, customers are required to text 'Feel Free' to 333 at no charge. Customers can participate in the 2Good phase by sending 2Good to 444.

The bonanza will run till May 31, 2011. The mobile operator will also present prizes to other winners in the promo who do not reside in Lagos at the nearest Airtel office location in the coming days.