It was a mixture of jubilation and deep gratitude as 10 customers of the telecoms network, Globacom, emerged winners of 10 tricycles, popularly called Keke Marwa, in a raffle drawn during the grand finale of this year’s Ojude Oba festival held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Tuesday.
Globacom is the major sponsor of the annual festival.
The 10 lucky winners were picked at the draw conducted by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at the end of the colourful and lively age-grade (Regberegbe) and Balogun competitions, complemented with a parade by masquerades and gun salutes.
Hundreds of customers were given raffle tickets as they purchased items from any Gloworld in the environs of Ijebu Ode weeks before and during the grand finale.
The winners, who took away the three-wheeled vehicles include Isaac Olawale, Johnson Olakitan, Michael Adeniyi, Henry Olayemi, Julius Agofure and Daniel Adebambo.
Others were Kazeem Mustapha, Shola Gbilesanmi , Monsurat Sebiotimo and Asiwaju Adebowale.
Speaking to journalists after they collected the keys, all the winners expressed joy and excitement, some of them jumping, dancing and reeling out their plans for the vehicle they won from Globacom.
Twenty-eight-year old Daniel Adebambo of Crown Polytechnic, Ekiti State, who didn’t know how to ride the tricycle said: “I never expected I would win. I thank God for this empowerment.
“I can’t ride the tricycle, but I am going to put it into business to support my finances at school.”
While Sebiotimo, a petty trader, said she purchased a device worth N5,000 and recharge card worth N50,000 from Glo to win, Olawale said he simply bought a phone for N3200 and recharge cards worth N1,800 from Gloworld, the network’s sales and service outlet in Ijebu Ode.
Olawale , a secondary school Biology teacher in a school in Ijebu Ode said he will use the tricycle for transportation. Another winner, Gbilesanmi said she would use the vehicle to transport her goods.
On her part, Sebiotimo narrated how she almost missed her prize as she was about leaving the Awujale’s Palace square, venue of the Ojude Oba, before the raffle draw winners were announced.
Globacom said only winners at the venue qualified for the prizes.
Winner Johnson Olakitan, a building material seller, explained that he used his last N5,000 to buy the phone that qualified him for the raffle.
On his part, Adeniyi Michael, who works with the Centre for Grassroots Economic Empowerment (CGEE ) said he got empowered himself when he purchased a techno phone with N3,000 and some recharge cards all totalling N5,000.
The tricycles were provided by Globacom to delight and empower the customers.
One of the winners of the tricycle, 37-year old civil servant with the Ogun State Hospital Management Board, Mr. Asiwaju Adebowale, commended Globacom for the kind gesture, adding “I feel great. I will start a transportation business to augment my salary”.
In the same vein, another tricycle winner, 40-year old Olayemi Henry, a social worker with the Justice Development and Peace Commission who lives in the Obalende area of Ijebu Ode said the tricycle will further endear his Commission to the Globacom brand while a panel beater who also won the tricycle announced, “I will use it for business”.
The tricycle winners were announced after the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi openly picked the draws at the event.
In the same vein some of the winners of the LED TV lauded Globacom for giving back to the society. Mrs Obafunmiloye Ogunniyi, an Events Planner said “Glo is the best. I was aiming for the tricycle but I got the LED TV”.
In the Regberegbe group, Egbe Bobamayegun Okunrin Asiwaju came first while Egbe Bobamayegun Okunrin emerged second and Egbe Tobalase Okunrin came third.
In the female category, Bobamayegun Obirin Aremo came first, Jagunmolu Obinrin Original came second while Jagunmolu Stainless emerged third.
In the Balogun category, Balogun Odunuga Family came first, Balogun Shote emerged second and Balogun Alausa Family was adjudged third.
During the event, Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr. urged government at the federal, state and local government levels to work harmoniously and design strategies to nip security challenges in the bud to harness the huge tourism potentials available in the country.
The business guru who stated this in his goodwill message to the 2019 Ojude Oba Festival read on his behalf by Mr. Folu Aderibigbe noted that “our tourism industry can only grow in an atmosphere of peace and security of lives and property”.
The Globacom Chairman explained that the company was always conscious of its pact with the people of Nigeria to support, grow and develop noble causes such as Ojude Oba which had assumed international status with the support of the telecoms firm.
He congratulated the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona for the numerous achievements during his reign, adding that Ijebuland was lucky to have him as a King without compare. Dr. Adenuga felicitated with all Ijebu for being alive to witness this year’s Ojude Oba Festival.
He assured Nigerians of constant delivery of optimum quality service and products as the acclaimed game changer in the telecommunication industry, adding that “we are proud that the Glo brand has, in the last 16 years, transformed into a household name with innovative solutions and pocket-friendly rates that have been enabling Nigerians to breathe easy in various ways. Our products and services are second to none and ahead of the pack”.