Apprentice Wins Glo’s Promo Car

The 2012 edition of Ofala Festival ended in a grand style on Saturday, at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, with a 22-year old apprentice, Nworie Ndubisi Elijah, winning a brand new Toyota Corolla car 2012 model, in the special Glo Ofala Sim raffle draw held at the Ime-Obi Palace.

All the age grades in the commercial city stormed the Ime Obi, dressed in different traditional attires and danced to the rhythmic beats of the drums and gongs, chorusing sonorous songs of adoration to their revered leader, the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe. They competed for the mouth-watering prizes provided by Globacom to enhance the age grade development in the town.

The drumming and singing rose to a higher crescendo when The Obi, adorned in his royal regalia, made the traditional three-round appearances at the arena to the admiration of the cheering subjects and invited dignitaries.

This was preceded by the traditional dance by the palace chiefs and the conventional paying of homage to the monarch. Among the dignitaries that witnessed the grand finale of the festival were the deputy governor of Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, Globacom’s Regional Director, Marketing Communications, Mr. Charles Jenarius, the Olori of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Yeyelua Sijuwade and many other traditional rulers from  Osun State.

Addressing the mammoth crowd, the Onitsha Monarch, said that it was heartwarming to have the dignitaries present to witness the festival and sued for peace among the Onitsha people, adding that development would only come to a nation when the people are peaceful.

The Obi reiterated Globacom’s commitment to add colour to the festival and revealed to his people that the giant telecommunication company  had completed a block of classrooms at the Metropolitan College, Onitsha, which would be commissioned on Monday and would also host the Royal Banquet in honour of the Obi to round off the festival.

The entire arena erupted in joy as officials of Globacom drove into the arena, with the star prize of brand new Toyota car, and other prizes such as Blackberry, laptops and Ipads, as well as the trophies to be won by those who participated in the age grade competition.

The prizes were for the lucky winners of the Special Ofala SIM promotion which started since 2011 Ofala festival. Nworie who won the star prize, came to the arena straight from his master’s shop when officials of Globacom called him. He was visibly shaking and dumbfounded about his new status. The highly elated  Nworie said that he never believed that he could win a brand new car as big as a Toyota Corolla in his life.

“I don’t know how to drive but something has been telling me to go and learn how to drive, and each time I tell my friends, they will ask me which car I will want to drive if I finish learning driving,” he said.

In the age grade processions for 60 years and above category, Anuafulo Age Grade came first with a prize of N100, 000 just as Ezudimkpa and Edemili Age Grades came second and third winning N75,000 and  N50, 000 respectively.

Adaobi, Onyemaejeogu and Nwannebuife groups came first, second and third respectively in the age grade category of people of 50-60 years, while for those from 49 years downward, Aggaedo, Umuaweke and Aniamaka won the first to third positions in that order.

Globacom had at the inception of its sponsorship of Ofala Festival in 2011, launched the Special Ofala SIM, the usage of which would enable subscribers on the special SIM platform to win prizes at the yearly Ofala celebration for the duration of the sponsorship. Similarly, those that bought the special Ofala Sim during the 2012 festival stand the chance of winning fantastic prizes at next Ofala season, said Globacom’s Regional Director, Marketing Communications, West Africa.

He encouraged the people of Onitsha to ensure they immediately pick up and register the special sim as more prizes will be won next year.