The Nation Newspaper

Category: Brand week

  • CSR: Union Bank adopts school in Kano

    CSR: Union Bank adopts school in Kano

    Union Bank of Nigeria has adopted Maryam Alooma Muhktar Girls Secondary School, Kano, as part of the activities marking this year’s Global Money Week.

    Global Money Week is a money awareness celebration from Monday, March 14, to Sunday, March 20, 2016. The globally recognised initiative is aimed at engaging children on aspects of financial education, including saving, creating livelihoods, gaining employment and entrepreneurship.

    The Bankers’ Committee of Nigeria designated Thursday, March 17, 2016 as Financial Literacy Day. The day has been marked to positively impact youths in primary and secondary schools by educating them on the basics of financial literacy and planning skills.

    “At Union Bank, we recognise the significance of promoting Financial Inclusion in Nigeria. We have developed a range of banking solutions tailored to service the under-banked businesses, communities and individuals across Nigeria.

    ‘’With our extensive network of over 300 banking centres, we have demonstrated our continued commitment to serve the public,”said the Group Managing Director, Union Bank and Chair of the Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment Sub-committee of the Bankers’ Committee, Emeka Emuwa.

    They added: “Beyond this, we recognise that Financial Literacy is a key enabler in our quest for Financial Inclusion and that we must begin by ensuring that our children are properly empowered with a sound financial education.”

    Union Bank’s executives and a team of staff volunteers have visited the school.

    Its Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Mr Kunle Sonola taught the pupils Financial Literacy from a curriculum developed by Junior Achievement–Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, focused on educating children on economic matters.

    The bank’s Executive Director, Public Sector, Ibrahim Kwargana said there was need to equip youths on how to handle and manage their finances.

    Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, represented by the Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Danlami Garba, described the programme as a wonderful initiative which the youth can gain from.

  • How Multichoice is keeping afloat

    How Multichoice is keeping afloat

    To keep its subscribers, Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DStv and GOtv, has slashed its subscription fees. The move, watchers say, makes business sense, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Difficult economic times require new strategies. With a squeeze on capital and credit, commodity and oil price weakness, coupled with the falling value of currencies, businesses are faced with the problem of taking tough decisions to stay afloat.

    While staff retrenchment, budget constraints and the desire not to lose customers to competitors are concerns, the solutions available are not really as simple as they look. A possible price increase proposition, which could be a buffer, could hike widespread protest from consumers, the recent protest against energy tariff increase is a case study.

    From banking, manufacturing, telecoms, to public service, there is an economic pressure forcing managers to think on moving their businesses forward, and taking a price slash and expressing desire to retain price despite that increased overheads make no one covet business managers.

    However, subscribers of Multichoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, were shocked late last month when the firm announced a price reduction on some of its decoders and in addition thrilled sports lovers on its compact bouquet.

    Football fans on Compact and Compact Plus were allowed access to watch EPL and La Liga on two new channels, SuperSport 11(DSTv Channel 231) and SuperSport 12(DSTv Channel 232) added to their platform.

    Also, the company reduced its Explora, dish kit with one month compact subscription, initially sold at N71,000 reduced by more than N50,000 to N30,000 while the DStv Zapper decoder, dish kit plus one month compact subscription will now sell at N12,500 as against the previous price of N18,500.

    This came as a shock to many DStv subscribers, who told The Nation that the history of price reduction by Multichoice can hardly be remembered, describing it as a bizarre.

    For many of them, left for its cost of purchase and subscription, the pay TV remains the most preferred choice as a result of its engaging, creative and innovative contents, channels and audio-visual quality.

    Some subscribers, who spoke with The Nation, said if other players could compete on those premises, other than affordable price which they offer against DStv prices, Multchoice brands could have gone into chasm.

    But the Managing Director for MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, said the market has suffered many notches due to economic volatilty.

    “It’s been a tough year for Multichoice Nigeria. Our markets have suffered as a result of commodity and oil price weakness, coupled with the huge devaluations of local currencies. Most of MultiChoice’s costs are incurred in dollars forcing us to pass through price increases in 2015. Nevertheless, we continue to take financial strain. But we are not alone! Our subscribers who are our biggest asset, are suffering. So, we are going to do our bit. We’ve decided to absorb some of the pains and not impose a price increase on any of our DStv bouquets. Barring any further external economic shocks, we do not anticipate a price increase in 2016,” he said.

    Ugbe continued: “We want you to have a great in home viewing experience and the best local and international television entertainment. We started this journey last month when we launched two new SuperSport channels to bring the EPL, La Liga and the EURO 2016 tournament to DStv Compact subscribers and we are not stopping there.”

    While its subscribers anticipate the usual April price increase, the pay TV published an advertorial on some national papers early in the week, insisting that subscribers should not anitipate any increment. “We are extremely pleased to announce that there will be no price increase on DStv subscriptions this April on any of the bouquets. Barring any further external economic shocks, we do not anticipate a price increase in 2016,” he said.

    This move has, however, generated reaction from individual, corporate and viewing centres subscribers. Adesola Tahoeed, who uses Explora platform described the late February announcement as shocking.

    Also, Mohammed Adamson, who runs a viewing centre, said he did not anticipate sustainabi-lity of the price slash and of the new channels to Compact bouquet until DStv later published further announcement in the papers during the week that subscribers should not anticipate any increase in April. “That is re-assuring that DStv shows care especially when most subscribers are facing economic challenges, drip in income. For now, DStv remains the leading brand,” he said.

    However, an expert and CEO of High Impact International, a Kenya-Uganda-based content marketing firm, Mr. Yinka Agbe, said raising and lowering prices effectively involves careful attention to timing.

    “It requires knowing how to affect your customers’ perception of the value inherent in what you are selling. It forces you to study and accurately predict reactions from your competitors,” he said.

    Quoting a survey by Harris Interactive, Agbede said 52 per cent of customers believe the main reason of doing business with a company is because of outstanding service while 38 percent also cited lowest price as another number one reason.

    Meanwhile, the General Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, said one of MultiChoice key priorities is to put subscribers’ needs at the heart of everything.

    “Since these have been tough economic times for everyone, we realised that our subscribers could use some good news,” said the  MultiChoice chief.

  • Consumer Day: Bank charges too many

    Consumer Day: Bank charges too many

    Though the theme of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) was Antibiotic Resistance with hashtag #AntibioticsOfftheMenu, in Nigeria it was about how to protect bank customers against spurious charges, ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI reports.

    After the March 1 #NoBankingDay protest, the consumer movement community has again urged banks to reverse excessive and multiple charges on customers’ account.

    Stakeholders, who spoke at a Consumer Day Symposium three days ago, organised by Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) to mark the World Consumer Rights Day, took a detour from the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) theme: Antibiotic Resistance with hashtag #AntibioticsOfftheMenu, to address one of the worst bank customers’ experiences.

    The forum raised concerns over cost automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawals, debit card issuance and renewals fee of N1000, ATM management charges of N100 yearly, new Stamp Duty charge of N50 on every credit of over N1000, online transfer charges, reintroduction of cost of transaction (CoT) under a new guise of Monthly Account Maintenance Charge of N1/mille.

    They also frowned at other levies by default the yoke of which were considered too heavy  on the frail necks of the customers without the chance to negotiate. Stakeholders are of the opinion that if these trend continues, it will erode the gains recorded by previous banking reforms,  discourage the informal sector from keeping their money with banks and weaken the banking sector on the long-run.

    The Chairman of TPT, a public relations agency, Mr. Tokunbo Modupe, who was the key speaker at the symposium said both corporate and individual banking customers are worried by the current trends of multiple and excessive charges.

    He said while last year alone, CBN investigated over 6,000 complaints from banks’ customers and compelled the banks ‘to refund over N6.2 billion to affected customers’, adding that the apex bank however failed to state the total cash claimed by customers, whether or not the affected customers were satisfied or not with the cash refunded and whether the culprit banks were sanctioned.

    He said such information would have assisted in appreciating the convergence or divergence of what was claimed and what was refunded, the feelings of the claimant customers about the final outcome of their complaints, and CBN’s ‘resolve’ to continuously enforce the provisions of the Revised Guide to Bank Charges.

    “Of course, there have been many complaints by customers of banks about unauthorised and illegal charges. Fleecing of customers has become the rule rather than the exception. The excesses come under different descriptions such as management fees, processing fees, interest charges, CoT, card maintenance fees, account maintenance fees, deposit, withdrawal and transfer, SMS alert fees, and ATM fees.

    Even the newly introduced stamp duty charge has become another coduit through which they fleece customers through overcharging. In one transaction, some banks send more than two SMS alerts and charge for each.

    The banks, for reasons such as greed, moral and professional bankruptcy, have often chosen to be the proverbial dogs eating the meat kept in their care. This has of necessity built distrust in the banks or the banking industry. This has adverse implications for CBN’s programme of financial inclusion as well as the volume of money outside the banking system and effectiveness of monetary policy, he said.

    Also, the President of CAFON, Mrs. Sola Salako, who rallied consumer advocacy groups penultimate week for a NoBankingDay protest, said banking customers should expect more shocks as CBN is a about to release banking charges for the next three years.

    She said from the draft copy published on CBN website, the annual card maintenance fee has now been reintroduced as monthly fee.

    “I plead to Nigerians to take time out to study the draft and starta conversation about it. This is the time for all of us to stand up against these,” she said.

    However, the President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Uju Ogubunka, said banks should not be blamed for excessive and multiple charges. While saying he is opposed to spurious, he said customers should be blamed because they don’t take their time to read the guides to banking. “The problem is with customers. Most people don’t know there is a guide to bank charges but they all know when they are overcharged. Most customers don’t know their brand manager,” he said.

    Modupe said both the CBN and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) have failed to protect the banking public. “The government agency set up for the protection of consumers seems not to be interested in the plight of the bank customers. Should we then call on the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission)to spare us some time from chasing politicians and help investigate and prosecute officials of banks on this obvious financial infraction? Or should we go to church like we usually do, to pray to God to save us from the evils of Nigerian banks?”

  • Dettol launches Clean Naija campaign

    Dettol launches Clean Naija campaign

    Reckit Benckiser (RB) has launched a new product, Dettol Multi-Surface Cleaner and new campaign tagged “Dettol Clean Naija”.

    The new product which was unveiled at the premises of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH with a public awareness campaign tagged ‘Dettol Clean Naija’ according to the Marketing Director RB West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili is the first of its kind in the surface-cleaning brand category.

    He said the new product provide 10 times better cleaning and germ kill versus detergents and bleach while providing all day freshness,

    Silivrili said the campaign “Dettol Clean Naija” also is a public awareness campaign to draw the attention of consumers to the need of promoting best hygiene practices across different platforms.

    “This campaign does not only introduce the new product but also making a difference on the grass root level via actively cleaning places like the Emergency and Accident Unit at LUTH where a germ free environment is of utmost priority in order to break the chain of contagious diseases,” he said.

    “This campaign brings like-minded institutions like LUTH and other health conscious institutions across Nigeria to promote jointly best hygiene practices, including personal and surface hygiene. The Clean Naija initiative team will travel from city to city and Nigerians will decide which places to clean through voting on the social media platforms,” he added.

  • Lafarge gives out 570 bags of cement at promo

    Lafarge gives out 570 bags of cement at promo

    • Over trucks containing 600bags won

    Lafarge Africa Plc has rewarded its customers with various prizes with Mrs. Yeside Oduyebo clinching the star prize of 50 bags of cement at the final raffle draw of its Buy & Win’ promo in Lagos.

    During the draw held in Ikorodu, 34 customers went home with five bags of cement, 20 customers with 10 bags of cement, 10 with 15 bags, all totaled 570 bags.

    Its Marketing Director, Bruno Hounkpati said the promotion is part of an overall strategy to win with the customers and create value for them.

    “What we want to achieve is to increase our customers’ loyalty. A repeat business or behaviour can be bribed but customer loyalty has to be earned.  We believe our customers have been good to us in spite of the situation; we are in a competitive environment,” Hounkpati noted.

    He said the promo which started  December last year ends this month, adding that it is targeted at retailers and block-moulders. He said  it is with a view to stimulating end user demand and enhancing sell out from key distributors.

    Explaining the promo works, Hounkpati said: “For the first phase, consumers who purchase 100bags of cement received an instant umbrella gift while in the second phase for every purchase of twenty bags the retailer gets a coupon which qualifies him to participate in a raffle draw with the chance of winning several gift items.

    “The promo is focused on the key regions of Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, West and Southwest has witnessed nine different raffle draws with 60 winners emerging from each location. So far, over 700 customers have been rewarded at the different raffle draw locations which include Badagry, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ajah, Abule-Egba, Oregun, Sagamu and Ikorodu. For the raffle prize, customers were rewarded with cement ranging from five bags to a star prize of 50 bags and other point of sales materials like Shovels, Head-pans, Pouches, Jackets, Almanacs, and T-shirts.”

    According to Hounkpati over 12 trucks each containing 600bags of cement have been given out since the commencement of the promo.

    Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Ebony De Great Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Modupe Oshibowale, one of the key distributors of Lafarge in Ikorodu has commended the  building materials company for honouring its promise to reward its loyal customers.

    Also, the trade Marketing & Brand Manager, Lafarge Africa Plc., Tina Sobola, congratulated the winners and explained that the response and participation is indicative of the positive acceptance of the promo by customers and appreciated the efforts of the company’s distributors and all those that made the promo successful.

  • ‘Viral marketing positioned our brand as health drink’

    ‘Viral marketing positioned our brand as health drink’

    Kasapreko is a Ghanaian company registered in Nigeria with about 20 brands in its portfolio. Some chagllenges have forced the brand managers to change the package of its cash-cow, Alomo Bitters. Its Managing Director, Kojo Nunoo, said in spite of the challenges, Kasapreko keeps weathering the storm and has done well in its market catchment, ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI met him.

    Bitters market and economic realities.

    I would say the bitters market has grown over the past five years since we entered the Nigerian market. It has grown significantly to the extent that we have multinationals playing in the field. As to the economic challenges, I think it could be seen from two perspectives. The first is locally based industries are those who are importing the finished products. From the point of view of the finished products, it’s quite a tight situation that we have at hand and requisite funding or effort needed to bring in these products have become a big challenge. It’s been difficult for us to trade smoothly in the country. It’s seriously challenging and it impacts on our operation. We are hopeful that within the shortest possible time, things will turn around.

    Talking about the external factors, how are you making sure that the brand still remains on top of the competition?

    In Ghana, there is a saying that goes, “good things sell themselves” and if you take Alomo bitters, you would realise that its quality in the market is unparalleled, the reason being that we have maintained the quality and even improved on packaging and all of that to ensure that these products stay ahead of the market.

    There seems to be more focus on Alomo Bitters from your staple, what efforts are you putting in place to project other brands?

    We have about 20 brands and we know that consumers are full of choices. So, what we try to do is come out with different brands to satisfy different consumers and if you take the flagship brand, Alomo bitters itself, as we speak now, we have four variants. We have the original which we call the classic; we have the Cold which is more fruity and flavoured; we also have the silver which is milder by way of flavouring for taste to ensure that people who do not like heavy alcohol can also enjoy something that is good for them. The last is the Alomo black which is wonderful especially our ladies who may not necessarily like the classic but who wants something that is more relaxing.

    Is your product registered as health drink by NAFDAC?

    No, it’s not registered as a health drink; otherwise we would have to come out with those agents. However, it has vitality properties in the herbs typical of every herb and that is what we use to produce these products. So, it’s not so much about it being prescribed as medicine but the word-of-mouth (viral marketing) either comes by way of testimonies is varied and mind bugging.

    What about setting up plants in Nigeria?

    I think for us a company, it was first export, and seeing that the market was growing, we said let’s get closer to our consumer. That is why we came in and then established a full time office here to secure places for warehouses both here in Lagos and in Port-Harcourt. We didn’t stop there, we also have depots. The whole idea is to grow the market further. As the market grows, it’s just a matter of time that we will say yes, we should have presence here. So that is the long term objective but then it’s a gradual process.

    What are your footprints in Corporate Social Responsibility?

    Apart from generating employment giving opportunities to direct workers and distributors, we as a company are not forgetting our consciousness about what we give back to this country. So some of our imports or input products are from here just to make sure there is a give and take situation. So we buy some of our raw materials here that we use for packaging. We also sponsor a number of programmes such as Calabar Carnival, Osun Osogbo Festival, and then also supporting other traditional programmes including Onigbongbo among others.

    Can you shed light on your Drink Responsibly campaign?

    Responsible drinking or responsible behaviour is the core of whatever we do so. It’s not just about the consumer. In every bit of our processes, we ensure that we have responsibility and quality at the heart of it. But our duty is to educate the public on usage and ensure that our product is out there for them to use quality. There is no negative effect as a result of taking our products.

  • Zentiva brand of drugs enters market

    Zentiva brand has entered the drugs market. From the stables of Sanofi, it will manufacture high-quality and affordable generic drugs.

    Zentiva is the third largest and fastest-growing generics medicines company in Europe.

    At the unveiling of the brand in Lagos, the  Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, said the brand would enhance access to quality healthcare.

    He said: “In Nigeria, there is dire need to offer quality healthcare service to the citizenry. There is a huge gap in the healthcare spend in the more developed economies when compared to what is spent on healthcare in this part of the world. Many citizens cannot afford the kind and quality of medicines that are used in developed countries. So, one of the ways to get the citizens to afford qualitative drugs is to support companies that produce generic medicines. That is why I will align with organizations that explore innovative ways of providing qualitative and affordable healthcare products and services.”

    the Managing Director of Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana, Mr. Abderrah-mane Chakibi, said the company’s ambition is to increase access to healthcare through the provision of innovative medicines and disease management expertise.

    He said one of the brand’s strategies is to continue to provide safe, effective and cost-effective medicines to support the driving down of overall healthcare costs.

    He said: ”This is why we are today unveiling our rich portfolio of quality and cost effective generic medicines under the identity of Zentiva in Nigeria. It is in direct reinforcement of Sanofi’s ‘access to healthcare ambitions’.”

    With said with the Sanofi extensive and secure distribution network, and the unique expertise of its workforce and trade partners, Sanofi is strategically positioned to make the Zentiva brands available to all who need it in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman, Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), Dr. Kolawole Owoka, said only about 10 per cent of drugs in Nigeria are manufactured locally; hence, the need for a reputable company, such as Zentiva, to establish their plants.

     

  • OMD is ‘most creative agency’

    OMD has been awarded Global Agency Network of the Year for the 10th consecutive time by the Gunn Report for Media

    The Gunn Report for Media is the industry standard for evaluating media creativity, innovation and effectiveness. The report summarises media agencies’ overall performance from January to December, last year based on the results of global, regional and national media award contests spanning most markets in the world.  Most importantly, it recognises the vital role media agencies play in today’s highly competitive and fragmented communications landscape.

    According to says the Regional Managing Director, mediaReach OMD, Tolu Ogunkoya,”The recognition of creativity through awards is important to our agency culture at OMD. It is not only a critical measure of our performance, but also a reflection of how much harder we are pushing ourselves and our media partners to better our work year over year.  And we know that award-winning campaigns deliver better ROI to our clients who expect us to go the extra mile every time.

    ‘’To achieve this 10 times in a row, acknowledges our global commitment and common ambition for sharper insights, smarter ideas and stronger results” says Mainardo de Nardis, CEO OMD Worldwide

    ”Our global culture cascades to local markets. With many local initiatives, we encourage our teams to produce works that deliver on objectives to overcome Business Challenges.’’

    In Nigeria mediaReach OMD, according to a report, is a leading media agency with a market share of 32.1 per cent, growing at 13 per cent year-on-year as per the latest report published by RECMA in June 2014.

  • Brandmykeke as new advertising platform

    Brandmykeke as new advertising platform

    As traditional media practitioners continue to devise means of surmounting competition from emerging media, exploring digital and social media platforms, the media keeps experiencing more challenges from new platforms at a time when advertising budget is shrinking.

    The latest challenge is coming from a new platform, “BrandMyKeke”, an Out-Of-Home  platform popularly called Keke Marwa (Tricycle), which offers viable exposure for brands.

    With approval of outdoor advertising regulators, the Tricycle, it is believed, has the power to reduce the market share of traditional 46-sheet billboards and its modern form, Digital LED billboards, which are stationed at specific locations, mostly traffic areas. Its ability to move from place to place gives the platform a vintage position.

    Recently, an innovative mobile out-of-home advert company, Brandmycar.com.ng, announced the entry of the mobile advertising platform into the market for brands seeking visibility in their markets of choice.

    Brandmycar.com Chief Executive Officer Ms. Amaka Okolo said the Brandmykeke platform is deployed on the hoods and back panels of tricycles or three-wheelers  (also KekeNapep).

    “It is a made-to-measure advertising solution ideal for mass market products. Prior to the introduction of the ‘Brandmykeke’ platform, producers and brand and marketing  communications managers of mass market products had a seemingly horrid time getting their products across to  their target audiences, especially, within close-knit communities, such as the Ajegunles and Idumotas of this world. The ‘Brandmykeke platform is fresh, unique and first-of-its-kind in advertising media in Nigeria,” said Okolo.

    She said the company designed the platform for brands because of the unique use of tricycles as a means of mass transportation in most Lagos neighborhoods.

    “We realise that the advertisers want exposure. Because tricycles operate in areas of large population, we are certain that the platform will give a lot more value to advertisers. We also noted the slow movement of the tricycles and believe that interaction between brands on these platforms and the market will be a lot stronger, thereby deepening brand penetration,” she continued.

    She also said her company also introduced another first from Brandmycar called Brandmybike, which will ensure brands have deeper penetration into targeted markets in inner streets and hitherto unreachable neighbourhoods.

    She said the company, which has fully patented its Brandmykeke design will also have trackers installed on each tricycle giving brands the option of tracking the tricycles so branded to ensure maximisation of value.

    “We will give them the choice of picking tricycles with trackers installed to monitor their campaigns. We are also taking addition care to train all riders before each campaign to instill in them the brand values of the brand owners and ensure full compliance,” she said.

    With over 5,000 cars, private cabs comprising airport and hotel cabs, she said before such money is paid to owners of the platform, the advertisers would verify their compliance through vehicle tracking reports to prevent falsehood by car owners.

    When engaged by advertisers, she noted that the tracking report would show how many miles the car has covered within the agreed period of time the advert is supposed to run, this way, advertisers will know how far the advert has travelled.

    Okolo further said advertisers could either pick the cars they want online or can allow the company pick for them and then do the vetting.

  • NB best distributor sells 5m cartons of beer last year

    After a fulfilling and rewarding business relationship last year, the brewing giant, Nigerian Breweries, has rewarded its distributors and trade partners across the country.

    A distributor, Ken Maduako from Nnewi in Onitsha marketing zone, beat two others to emerge the company best distributor for 2015, selling more than five million cartons of beer.

    Another distributor, Ifeoma Chukwuka Nigeria Limited, who won the last two editions, clinched the seond position, beating Magulf Global Enterprises to third position.

    Maduako has also, by his feat, created a new African record of selling more than five million cartons of beer in his zone last year. He thanked the company for the gesture and advised that the momentum be sustained to stay on top.

    The award ceremony, which took place at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was to honour the distributors and key transporters of the company, who excelled in  their business partnerships with the brewing giant.

    The Nigerian Breweries’ Sale Director, Hubert Eze, when thanking the trade partners for staying with the company, explained that the award, which was preceded by a Distributors Business Meeting, was conceived to recognise and reward the excellent performance of the company’s distributors and transporters for the year 2015.

    The award ceremony, he added, also provided the platform to evaluate the previous year’s business performance and communicate new business strategies to distributors.

    He disclosed that despite the challenges in the operating environment, the company did well and achieved many milestones that called for celebration. “Our partnership was not built for today, but built for the future. 2016 will be challenging too, but we believe, we Nigerians, are happy people and we are going to win again.  At the end of the year we will gather not to talk only about the difficulties, but our victories,” he told the crowd amidst applause.

    The awards,  which was in 10 categories included: National Volume Champion; National Volume Champion (1st & 2nd runner up); Regional Champions; Regional Volume Champion -1st runner up; Regional Volume Champion – 2nd runner up.

    Other categories are: Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved between 1million and 1.99million cases); Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved between 2million and 2.99million cases); and Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved three million cases and above.

    Prizes carted home by the lucky distributors included: Brand new Man Diesel truck; Mitsubishi Canter trucks; Mitsubishi L200 double cabin; Forklifts; sound-proof generating sets; cash rewards and several free cartons of Nigerian Breweries products.

    Apart from rewarding the distributors, the night was spiced with lots of entertainment from A list musicians such as Onyeka Owenu, stand-up comedian, Seyi Law and Joseph Benjamin, who compered at the event.