As more winners emerge in the ongoing N500 million Dangote Cement Retailers Bonanza, Season 2, the scope of the winnings has been expanded by Access Bank, which is partnering the cement company to offer additional prizes to the Dangote Cement distributors and retailers.
At the presentation of prizes to the new winners in Lagos yesterday, the bank told the winners that henceforth, any distributor or retailer who refers someone to the bank would stand the chance of winning a return ticket to Dubai and other household items like fridges, freezers, fans and television, among others.
At the Isolo, Lagos depot of Dangote Cement yesterday, leading the pack of star winners was a 90-year-old retailer, Baba Hassan Shitta, who defied the early morning showers to take delivery of his 600 bags and 20ft container he won.
He explained that he has been in the business of cement retailing for years and that Dangote Cement bonanza was the first cement company to organise a promo to benefit retailers.
“I was more than excited when I received the phone call that I have won 600 bags of cement. It was my distributor who helped me fill the coupon I submitted. Ever since I started the business, I have never sold any other cement in my life. Dangote has been good to me and this is another opportunity for me again. We are being encouraged.
“May God continue to bless Alhaji Dangote for his generosity. Imagine how much the number of bags of cement they are giving me will add to my business. It’s a lot. I will take the story to Ikorodu and tell others who are not yet participating in the Bonanza that it is real,” Baba Shitta stated.
Also basking in the euphoria of their winning, Soyombo Rashidat of Morash Ventures, Ikorodu, and Madam Khadijat Oluseun Rasheed of Kazeezat Enterprises, Ibafo, said the company has strengthened their resolve to continue in the business and that Dangote has revolutionised the business to the level where they could pass it on to their children.
Lauding the company for the good gesture, the winners noted that they believe strongly they would win when filling the coupons that won them the prizes. Soyombo who won 1,200 bags and a 40ft container, all worth N4 million, said she would add the bags of cement to her business to shore up her portfolio.
Madam Khadija expressed appreciation for the prompt redemption of the prizes each time the company runs a promo. According to her, she also won in the Season 1 of the bonanza and has been winning 10 bags for the past 13 times before she finally won the 600 bags now.
In his comment, Lagos Regional Director, Dangote Cement, Tunde Mabogunje, while thanking the winners, said the company appreciated their patronage, adding that the promo was one of the ways it planned to compensate them for their patronage over time.
He stated that Dangote Cement has never shied away from encouraging its customers, both distributors and retailers, and that the company is constantly devising means to help them remain in business profitably.
He explained that the bonanza has been designed in a very transparent manner that winners can only emerge through due process devoid of manipulation. The Regional Director explained that all the retailers need do is to buy up to 300 bags and collect a coupon, fill it, write their name, address and phone numbers and drop in the designated collection box. Every week draws are held to select star winners.
“Anyone could win the 1,200 bags, 600 bags and certainly everyday some people win 10 bags of cement as consolation prizes. The winner is called on phone while the draw is going on and he or she collects from any of our stores nearest to them. But we decided to take the winnings to them wherever they are in full public glare so that those doubting will know it is real, and participate,” he said.
In his own remarks, the Access Bank Manager, Reuben Dalhatu-Gora, explained that the bank has only come in to increase the chances and actual winning of Dangote Cement retailers. “What we have done is to key into the bonanza by saying that even after winning in the bonanza, you can still win from Access Bank simply by referring to us the distributor from whom they bought their products.
“Both the retailer and distributor stand the chance of winning. We have always partnered Dangote Cement anytime they are running a promo for their customers and we felt we should be involved this time round by increasing their chances of winning and the actual winning,” he said.