First set of winners have emerged in the ongoing Feel Free Bonanza organised by leading telecommunications company, Airtel which commenced more than a week ago.

The first batch of winners include an Ikorodu, Lagos based 70-year old pensioner, Mrs Oluremi Benson, who won one of the star prizes, N1,000,000.00 in a draw held in Lagos by Airtel.

When contacted on phone, the obviously surprised septuagenarian who could hardly control her emotion was excited beyond words, praising God for using Airtel to lift her up financially.

Mrs. Benson said he could hardly believe that amongst so many participants in the Bonanza he had been selected as one of the winners in the Offer.

Six other Nigerians won one million each, becoming instant millionaires. Two of the new millionaires include a 36 year old, Lagos resident and a businessman, Mr. Gabriel Odite, and Okolo Umunali, a travel consultant.

Also, several other participants including a 56 year old Principal in Cross Rivers State, Mr. Sylvester Aware Owan, Mr. Tamilore Keshinro, a student, and Mr. Oluniyi Oshoba, a politician, won a brand new LCD Television each.

Other winners are Mr. Mathew Ofia, a Consultant in the Oil & Gas Industry, Mr. Mark Peter Ekanem, a Marketer with Iris Foundation, and Mr. Alex Martins Anyanwu, a businessman.

Additionally, a Community Health worker in the Billiri Local Government Area in the Northern State of Gombe, Mrs. Ruth Ezekiel and Charles Nwaobi, a freight forwarder based in Lagos won Blackberry handsets.

When contacted on phone, Mrs Ruth Ezekiel was extremely excited and thanked Airtel profusely for organizing an interactive SMS offer to excite its customers, also creating a pathway to riches for many. She urged the company to continue to launch innovative promos for Nigerians.

The winners have been contacted by officials of Airtel and they will be presented their winnings at a prize ceremony in locations closest to them.

According to the Chief Operations Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Deepak Srivastava, the draw and the emergence of the first batch of winners further demonstrates Airtel’s commitment to openness and transparency in the conduct of its Promos.

He added that Airtel will continue to delight and excite its customers with innovative and affordable offerings.

To participate in the Airtel Feel Free Bonanza, customers are expected to send a message with the keyword, ‘FEEL FREE’ to the Promotion short code, 333, for free to win the LCD TV. They stand a chance to win N1, 000,000 or the Blackberry handset if they agree to participate in the 2Good Offer, while playing on 333, for which they are billed N100 daily.

The offer is trivia-based, where subscribers would answer questions and gain maximum points for correct answers, and minimum points for incorrect answers.

Winners are selected weekly using a fully computerised and fully randomized raffle (Draw) system that has been certified by a leading processes and applications audit firm, TCQ&A who also has the responsibility of supervising the process of the draws and prize redemption

A winner is expected to emerge for each day of the Bonanza starting from the take off date, February 21, 2011. The Bonanza will run for 100 days.

The Airtel Feel Free Bonanza will end on May 31, 2011