When 500 Guilder customers race for N4.5m car in Benin
Determination, dexterity and focus singled out Goodnews Okonjimi, a 200 level marine technology student of Akwa Ibom State University among about 500 young men and women who competed for N4.5 million Elentra new brand car staked by Gulder in its national promotion competition in Benin City.
Goodnews from a family of 8 had focused his mind on winning one the 15 brand new vehicles put up for grabs in Gulder Ultimate national promotion. The vehicles were placed in some states for the national chase competition. Goodnews made efforts at the Port Harcourt chase competition, he lost. He did not give up. He moved to Ibadan, where he put up impressive performance in the competition that requires running a distance of about 6 kilometres, solving riddle at the end to identify where the car key is located. After identifying where the key was located, he was close to grabbing the car key, but a faster candidate was luckier.
With experiences from Port Harcourt and Ibadan Chase competition, Goodnews knew that the car was closer to him. At the Benin Ogbe Stadium center, Goodnews arrived a day before with the required six crown corks marked ‘Ultimate Chase’ to compete with other contestants. He trained very well and slept at the stadium for the competition on October 17, 2015.
On the fateful day, the Goodnews who would have been disappointed if he did not win the car after all encouragements from his relatives, came early to the Ogbe Stadium, went through the medical test and was ready for the ‘fight’. Successful participants that scale the health check are given Gulder bibs to adorn, to prevent incursion form outsiders during the race. After about few minutes of the race, the youngman from Akwa Ibom arrived at the point of the car-key search behind a few other contestants, solved the riddle and headed straight where the key was hidden and lifted the box. He became the hero.
On what motivated him to continue to contest in the promo, Goodnews said it had been a learning experience for him. He said: “The Gulder Ultimate Chase has been a learning experience for me. I learnt from the mistakes I made in Port Harcourt and Ibadan but I was determined to improve on the subsequent ones”
Goodnews who is being assisted in his education financing by his aunty said he will decide whether to sell the car to fund his education or retain it. It was obvious that his education financing difficulties motivated him to win the car as he said “I have paid half of my school fees to balance the rest in addition to accommodation challenges”
Goodnews was appreciative to Gulder brand managers for the promo. “With this promo, they are supporting the low placed people in the society”
The car was not the only prize staked at the end point after the race. Other 200 consolation prize tickets such as MP3 players, mini music bluetooth speakers, dual SIM phones, electric shavers, Gulder cufflinks, spray irons, cooking plates, rechargeable standing fans, Galaxy Tabs, smart phones, 32 inch television sets, a year’s supply of Gulder, 1.3 KVA generators, refrigerators and home theatres were placed inside boxes. Those that arrived early could be lucky to pick any of the prizes if they want or chace the car.
With greediness, some contestants who arrived early at the end point hid more than one ticket for consolation prizes with the intention to give them to their friends to discount, but the watchful eyes of the security agents prevented some of them from executing their plans.
There are two types of participants in the Gulder Ultimate Chase. The second is the raffle draw where another candidate will win a car too.
However, the National Consumer Promotion tagged the Ultimate Chase has really deepened the bond and engagement with consumers through fun activities which are in tandem with the brand’s core values while also giving them an opportunity to win a brand new Hyundai Elantra car and other high net worth prizes.
In one of the prize presentations for earlier winners, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem said the event was a further confirmation of Nigerian Breweries’ commitment to fulfilling its promises to consumers of its products.
Ekanem who confirmed that more prizes were still to be won, urged consumers to take advantage of the opportunity offered by Gulder beer.
Emmanuel Agu, Marketing Manager, Gulder, 33, Life, More and Stout category, Nigerian Breweries believes that Nigerian Breweries Plc, is a socially responsible organization that delivers on its promises no matter how seemingly big those promises may be. Agu said recently that more prizes including cars, consumer electronics and other gift items can still be won in the promo that will last till November 30,2015. He called on consumers to take advantage of the promo.
More winners are expected to emerge as the GulderUltimate Chase train moves to other locations such as Onitsha and Calabar.
Daniel Obi