As Ijebu indigenes and tourists from all over the world attended the cultural festival that is reputed to be one of the biggest of its kind in West Africa, Goldberg beer, befitting brand from Nigerian Breweries Plc celebrated the sons of daughters of Ijebu land on the occasion of the 2015 Ojude Oba. Apart from showing support for the landmark event that evokes cultural aesthetics and celebration for indigenes, Goldberg also put up a 10-day Beer Village for the enjoyment of the consumers.
The Beer Village provided a serene and relaxing ambience for consumers who had fun with their friends and family for the ten-day period. The climax of activities at the Beer Village which coincided with the grand finale of the Ojude Oba festival was a raffle draw as Goldberg consumers went home with several prizes.
Speaking at the festival, Goldberg Brand Manager, Mfon Bassey showered encomium on the people of Ijebu land to embrace the cultural values of the festival which has become a yearly traditional activity that the indigenes of Ijebu-land and tourists from other places look forward to simply because of its rich cultural heritage.
He stated that “the Ojude Oba festival is an annual festival held to celebrate religious tolerance that has prevailed in Ijebuland for over two centuries. The festival is not all about equestrian display, parade of culture and tradition, merry making and fun fare, it provides the Ijebu nation the opportunity to take stock, embark of self-help projects, reunite with family members and acquaintances, and supplicate to the Almighty God”.
The festival also boosts commerce and trade in its entirety as commercial and trading activities are at their pick during the festival. The festival touches every spectrum of life in Ijebuland. All the facilities- hotels, restaurants, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, professionals, market women and men, etc. are fully engaged with several multiplier effects.
In the same vein, the Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem said Nigerian Breweries is associating with the age long Ojude Oba festival with the Goldberg brand to give consumers the wonderful experience of a life time. He said the brand’s beer village at the Dipo Dina stadium created a platform for locals and tourists to enjoy Goldberg Lager Beer amid the fun fare of a musical carnival.
“Nigerian Breweries is very proud to be associated with a carnival of this magnitude that brings thousands of indigenes, tourists and guests from all walks of life to the historical city every year. As the foremost brewery in the country, it delights us to sponsor this year’s carnival and also participate in the cultural parade that equally serves as a distinctive platform to reconnect with the values that sustain the rich cultural heritage and the uniqueness of the Ijebu people”, Ekanem said.
For every two bottles of Goldberg bought, consumers were given a raffle ticket which qualified them to enter for the raffle draw. A lot of fantastic prizes like refrigerators, bags of rice, vegetable oil, generators, etc. were won during the raffle draw.
Mr Remi, one of the winners, at the raffle draw stated that he never expected to win any prize. “I only came here to enjoy myself with my friends not knowing that I would be lucky enough to go home with a refrigerator. My wife will be happy when I take it back home to her. I thank Goldberg for this gift and I pray that their company will continue to increase”. He also encouraged people to continue to patronize Goldberg and other Nigeria Breweries products.
It was difficult for anyone to sit still at the village as the band rendered sonorous music accompanied by the rich rhythms of African drums. One of the visitors to the village, on condition of anonymity, expressed delight at the initiative Goldberg has taken to make provision for Ijebu indigenes to unwind during this festive period. He also encouraged other brands to follow suit.
