How Airtel promotes entrepreneurship in ‘Red Hot Promo 3’
When it kicked off the third season of its on-going Red Hot promo early last month, Airtel noted that more opportunities awaited customers when compared with what was offered in the two previous seasons. True to its promises, the telco announced the grand prize of all-expense paid trip for 240 people to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However, there is an aspect of this promo which tends to nurture entrepreneurship among Nigerians.
The telco currently doles out one million naira to lucky winners on daily basis.
This may seem common to many but not to small business experts, who believe that the winners will likely route the money to their businesses, given the current situation in the economy.
“I remember when I won one in 2011. I had to use it to set up a new business in Kubwa (Abuja),” Ikechukwu Ibeabuchi, managing director, MD Services Limited, told Start-Up Digest.
“It is possible that some of the winners will use it for expansion. It is also possible that unemployed winners will start something with it. I have found out that there are people with ideas but without money with which to execute them. When you hand them this kind of money, they will unleash the entrepreneurship in them,” Ibeabuchi said.
Samuel Igbede, an entrepreneur in the retail sector, prayed that more young and indigent Nigerians win so that they could create better value with it.
“This can change one’s life, if well used. This is why I always advise that you have good business ideas in mind so that you won’t be lost if you become a lucky winner,” Igbede told Start-Up Digest.
In this season’s promo Airtel offered each of the 60 lucky winners the opportunity to select three persons to accompany him on the trip. This is in addition to the giveaways of thousands of free airtime on daily basis during the 60 days, while sixty other customers are expected to emerge winners of N1m each.
Winners of the various categories of prizes are selected using an electronic raffle draw.
At the launch of the promo, Ahmed Mokhles, chief commercial officer, Airtel Nigeria, said the telco is committed to connecting Nigerians to their dreams and providing credible platforms and spring boards for telecoms consumers achieve their greatness.
According to Airtel, everyone is a winner in the Red Hot promo, as each customer stands a chance to win the all-expense paid trip to Dubai, high-end device, free airtime or cash prizes.
Dinesh Balsingh explained that the Red Hot Promo this year is inclusive and more exciting for customers as winners of the all-expense paid trip to Dubai could freely choose anyone to accompany them on the journey. Few days after launch, the winners were announced at a press conference held at Ikeja, Lagos. They included those who won the N1m and the all-expense paid trip to Dubai.
At the prize presentation in Lagos, Eze Sonlove, a driver with a hospital in Lagos; Nwankwo Ferdinand, a trader at Iyana-Iba market; Fashola Peter, a civil servant in Lagos and Habeeb Adepoju, a student in Ijebu, Ogun State, went home with N1million each.
Victoria Obi, a Lagos-based businesswoman, and Nnamdi Oji, a web developer/entrepreneur, got their tickets for the all-expense paid trip.
While among his many friends, Oji had to decide who to take along, but he eventually chose his friends and workmates.
On December 26ththe Dubai trip winners were treated to a party before their departure. They all had some light refreshment as they prepared for the trip. Dinesh Balsingh, Airtel’s vice president, segment, usage & retention, and Oladipo Jolaosho, head, mass segment, were at the departure party held for the winners.
Victoria Obi selected her three kids, Mariam, Michael and Raphael for the trip, while Oji chose his friends/workmates, Henry White, Joy Njoku and Cynthia Edokwe to join him.
Eight of them in all admitted that the all-expense paid trip to Dubai was their first trip ever to the UAE, so they had planned to make it a worthwhile experience.
Obi commended Airtel Nigeria for giving her and the children this opportunity.
Airtel collaborated with the Emirates Holidays to handle the itinerary of the trip from Nigeria to Dubai and back. Regulatory bodies such as the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) were also carried along in the promo.
ODINAKA ANUDU