Calypso thrills corps members at Sagamu orientation camp

By Wale Ojo-Lanre

Corps members dancing at the welcome party
organised by Calypso Coconut Liquor

IT was a whole month of fun and excitement when Calypso Coconut Liquour organized a month long fun activity at the NYSC camp in Shagamu.

The activity was meant to keep the camp lively and thrilling. On daily basis Calypso treats Corp members to a daily DSTV viewing, while sampling of Calypso Cream and Calypso Coconut Liquour goes in a beach like environment been created by Calypso.

According to Femi Olayemi, Area Sales Manager, Grand Oak Limited a welcome party was equally organized for the corp members where all Corps member danced their heart out for joy at the occasion.

Football competition was equally organized by Calypso Coconut Liquour where Trophy was presented to the winning team on the camp. To cap it all, a Calypso camp blast was organized when Z-mirage brought a multi million Naira stage setting to the camp with S. Sultan, Dee Baba and MC Kofi in attendance.

Among the programme for the night event was Mr. Mancho, Miss Calypso and birthday celebration for Corps members whose birthday falls on that day. Among the fantastic prizes won on the event were two HP Laptops, two Flatron LG Colour television, two N73 Nokia phone and lots of other consolation prizes.

The event is a grand one that showed that Calypso Coconut Liquour is a drink of the youth and upwardly mobile.

MTN defends Africa root, set for Ile Oluji

The leading telecommunication company in Nigeria, MTN once again showed its support for the African culture, as it takes the Y,ello brand to the city of Ile Oluji in Ondo State.

The company is throwing its weight behind Ile Oluji Day celebration which runs between 12th and 17th of November. The yearly cultural feast is a point of reunion that the people look forward to with great expectation; as natives and well wishers come from far and near to celebrate age long heritage and tradition.

While the previous edition may not have enjoyed the much needed leveraging to the world, that could attract the possible returns from its tourism potentials, this year promises to be different, as the communication giant has promised to give it the needed publicity.

Speaking further on the reason for the company’s support for the festival, Abiodun Odejayi, Senior Manager, Trade Marketing, MTN Nigeria, emphasized that his organization is also using the festival to reiterate both the ‘Can do’ spirit and the ‘Moving You Ahead’ value proposition in its current marketing communication campaign.

MTN, through its support for the festival, is using the medium to associate and showcase the beauty of the African culture to the world. Beyond all that, Odejayi says, the company is using the festival to not only drive brand affinity, but also live the passion of the people and empower the host community.

As part of its contribution to the preservation of the history and human values especially in Africa; MTN Nigeria has over the years been actively involved in the celebration of culture and traditions of the Nigerian people. Recently it sponsored the Osun Osogbo festival in Osun State - UNESCO recognized festival that celebrates the bond between the Osun river goddess and the people of Osogbo.

The cape the festival has got to with attraction and great expectations during this period of memorable procession, dance, art exhibition and colourful carnivals remain an endearing factor in communality and appreciation of human essence and heritage purpose. And the event over the years, has given residents and tourists opportunities to recreate socially, and culturally, as they re-enact one of their renowned age-long communal feasts.

MTN was at the Ikeji Festival of the Arondizuogu in Imo state, a popular festival that brings the people of the Igbo speaking community around the world together. Dated back over five century, it is acclaimed as the biggest Pan- Igbo Cultural Festival, and has been a unifying force for people of the Arondizuogu, which is the heart of the Igbo kingdom worldwide.

And as a way of showing its appreciation to the rich customs and values of the Igbo people, the GSM Operator made the festival a treat for the community through its support of major activities during the festival.

Among other cultural initiatives, the telecom giant has also been part of the annual Lisabi Festival which it has made a tourist destination point for the people of Abeokuta, Ogun State. The Lisabi Day celebrated annually helps to bring the Egba people together, to share, fellowship, honour as well as cherish the memories of their great heroes and heroines who fought series of battles to create a homestead for themselves and future generation of Egba.

And for people of northern Nigerian, there is the famous Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State. The telecom giant has been active supporter of the festival.

Historically, Argungun fishing festival began in 1934 and was used to mark peace between the former Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom. Celebrated yearly in an atmosphere of fun and entertainment, the festival is arguably the biggest in Nigeria today, with tourists coming from within and outside the country.

Reflecting on MTN involvement in cultural activities, Abiodun Odejayi noted that MTN sponsorship and participation in promoting the African culture, “is in appreciation of our root”.

According to him, “We acknowledge the fact that even though we have a large subscriber’s base that is based in the cities, we all have roots. So, in MTN, we want our customers to be able to touch and feel us, as a company that cares about them, that cares about those things that they care about. We are cultural people as Nigerians; therefore we celebrate our cultural heritage. And MTN is a facilitator of that celebration