As the TubiriMo Campaign came to an end, MTN Mobile Money and NCBA Bank Rwanda on Friday, August 25, awarded the overall winner with a prize of Rwf5 million.
During the three-month campaign, mobile money customers and new users saved and got loans offered through Mokash, a partnership of MTN Mobile Money and NCBA, in a bid to win prizes.
"At first, I couldn’t believe it when they called me telling me that I have won Rwf5 million, but it was true indeed. I told my wife that I have won the prize,” Callixte Kabarisa, the grand prize winner, said.
"I used Mokash just like a bank and I didn’t expect a prize like this. Well, I had no plans for this money, but I am going to take time with my partner and see how best we can use it.”
Up to Rwf31 million was awarded to over 253 customers who took part in the campaign, with 60 per cent of them using the funds to grow their businesses and the remainder using the money for personal growth.
"The main objective of this campaign was to encourage people to save for their future needs, or any emergency needs that may come up and we encouraged people to use Mokash,” Roselyn Munyana, Head of Digital Business at NCBA, said.
Between 800,000 and 900,000 customers took part in the TubiriMo Campaign by saving and borrowing, Munyana said. 30 per cent were women and 27 per cent were the youth.
"This campaign has been a success and we thank everyone who participated,” she said.
With Mokash, customers can get short-term loans of up to Rwf500,000. Mokash users can also save any amount and get a seven per cent interest per year. To use Mokash as a Mobile Money customer, you dial *182*5*1#.
"This came up when we wanted people to know about the Mokash product. And the number of our existing and new customers using Mokash to save and borrow has increased as a result, Alice Muhongerwa, Bank Tech Manager at MTN Mobile Money, said.
"We want people to be more aware of the benefits of saving and start making it a habit. You can start a profit-making business using your savings. We also want people to know about Mokash loans. The more you save, the bigger the loan you can get with Mokash."