A retired diplomat, Job Oniwon, and a real estate agent, Father Jacob, smiled home last weekend with five million naira each at the grand finale of the Magic Hour Promo, a 90-day customer loyalty reward scheme launched by 9mobile in February this year.
The duo, who live in Abuja, received their cheques at the grand finale of the promo held at 9mobile's office in Lagos on Friday, May 24 alongside several others who won cash prizes ranging from N50,000 to N100,000 and smartphones.
Speaking at the presentation event, Oniwon, whose last posting before his retirement was at the Nigerian High Commission in London, said he was incredulous when informed that he had won the money.
He said, "Frankly speaking, I was on cloud nine. In the first instance, I never expected it. They [9mobile] only told me last evening that I won and it was music to my ears. I had won a prize in a previous 9mobile promo. Back then, it was like a joke, but I actively played the Magic Hour Promo to win because that earlier experience affirmed my belief in the company."
While thanking the operator, Oniwon added that his emergence as one of the two winners of the grand prize of five million naira was also justification for his resolve to continue using 9mobile after some friends tried to discourage him.
"I'm an addict of anything called 9mobile. When the company changed its name, and people said I should drop my line for another network because they claimed 9mobile was going down, I said no. I remained with them. Anything that's a promo from 9mobile, I want to try my hands on it, especially since I'm retired and I'm happy to have been vindicated", he said.
Also speaking, Jacob, who hails from Adamawa State, said he decided to participate in the promo because "my mind told me I would be successful."
The property agent, who joined 9mobile network four years ago, commended the telco for its various initiatives while offering to help the needy with part of his prize.
"I'm happy, and I have nothing to say than express my gratitude to 9mobile. God will continue to bless the company. I didn't expect that I would win the money. The way the company has helped me, I will like to help others too with part of my prize," Jacob said.
Commenting, Chief Financial Officer, 9mobile, Phillips Oki, said the company had further demonstrated its integrity and commitment to empowering customers with the Magic Hour promo which began in February.
He said, "it shows we were able to live up to expectations and we are what we say. We have delivered what we promised. What the huge participation in the promo has also done is affirm that 9mobile is on track with its quality service and good customer experience. Our customers should keep recharging, and they can be part of more promotions that we intend to bring in the nearest future."
Oki, who expressed hope that the prizes will go a long way in impacting the lives of winners, disclosed that 9mobile chose to make the promo a national one because of its imprints across Nigeria and to reward loyal customers who had kept faith with it in over 10 years of operations.
Earlier on Thursday at the Port-Harcourt regional draws and prize presentation, a 300-level mathematics student of the Rivers State University, Mina Ezekiel Hart, was rewarded with N50,000 while an interior designer, Michael Pepple, went home with a new smartphone.
Hart said, "This N50,000 is going to make a big difference in my life because I've been broke for a while. Thank you for making me one of the winners, and I want to encourage others to keep trying when another promo starts."
Welcoming the winners to the event, Head, 9mobile Regional Sales, South-South, Martins Ojugbeli, restated the company's commitment to customers. "We are excited about the impact these prizes are going to have on your lives. It's our way of demonstrating commitment to you that we truly care. So, I urge you to spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues that 9mobile is the network to be on", he said.
Magic Hour Promo is a reward scheme in which millions of 9mobile customers won fantastic prizes including free airtime, smartphones and cash prizes running into millions of naira. It was to appreciate customers of 9mobile for their unwavering loyalty and brand affinity over the past decade.
