By Prince Osuagwu

Over the years, MTN Nigeria has created several customer promotions targeted at rewarding loyal customers. From the days of Buy One Get One Free, BOGOF, to that of MTN Y’ello Family Game Show and the recent Billionaires promo, either by luck or providence, the beneficiaries of these promotions are largely the lower class.

Even though in several cases, both the high, middle and lower classes applaud the human interest that some of these promotions take care of, there must also have been a feeling of alienation by the corporate customers who would want to be so recognised for their contributions to keeping MTN on top of their game for the past ten years.

Perhaps, the feeling is what MTN targeted to erase, at the weekend, when it gathered its high profile customers at the new dome of the Ocean View Restaurants, Victoria Island, Lagos and inducted them into the prestigious MTN Platinum Club.

The event did not only attract the right kind of crowd as the who is who in the Nigerian business circle made representations but also the right entertainment, with delectable frontline local and international music icons like Victor Olaiya. Fatai Rolling Dollars, Sisters with Voices, SWV and the Midnight Star groups were handy to entertain the new clubbers.

It was a night that has nothing to do with the lower class as the drinks food and entertainment had imprints of wealth. No wonder, MTN said it was a worthy reward for worthy customers of ten years.

The Club

The club according to MTN is meant to treat the company’s corporate customers and volume callers as class individuals and not as numbers that make up the subscriber base. Clubbers would enjoy benefits ranging from travelling to the UK to watch either the grade A league matches live or even the Formula 1 auto race competition in USA.

MTN subscribers who have accumulated up to N300,000 in the last six months are automatic members of this club.

Explaining deeply the benefits of the club, MTN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bret Goschen said that the club creates for qualified subscriber, one Account, more rewards and multiple privileges.

According to him, “this is a loyalty program that rewards most loyal customers for not only the time spent on calls but also their total net worth based on all products and services used on the network.

It creates OneAccount, which consolidates the users’ all MTN accounts as one, allowing him monitor cumulative spending on the network with ease. MTN Platinum Plus Members enjoy access to exclusive services and exciting lifestyle benefits”

Some of these benefits, according to MTN, include Platinum overdraft; an exclusive service that allows MTN Platinum Plus Members to keep talking up to 30minutes after airtime runs out.

Platinum concierge; a one stop spot for up to date information on flights, business listings, events, traffic, hotels and restaurants and more at a single dial of short code 4900

Super Saver tariff plan; which allows members to enjoy unequalled value with every second, especially on long calls and free airtime on weekends.

There is also the benefit called platinum surprises. This is a time when members of the club would receive unexpected gifts and other treatments, perhaps during their birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.

The platinum club members also receive special invitations to MTN Global Networking seminars, which have key focus on business, strategy, entrepreneurship and governance, all promised under an atmosphere of class and sophistication.

MTN also promised that its Platinum Plus members will also enjoy lifestyle packages that include free international holiday trips to exotic locations, choice seats at major English Premier League matches, Formula 1 events and Yacht Cruises. They also enjoy regular phone upgrades and special benefit reviews on rewards and promotions.

The company also promised to unleash in 2012, quality network equipments that could not be deployed in 2010 and 2011, declaring that the next decade was going to be a decade of massive investment. even as its customers were going to experience an exciting service period all through.