Hero Lager lights up Onitsha, parades music stars

The Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha came alive on Friday, November 23, as popular Nigerian music artistes headlined the fourth edition of the Hero Lager Fiesta. Frontline artistes such as Duncan Mighty, Timaya, Harrysong, Omawunmi, Reekado Banks and Rudeboy, one half of PSquare, performed their popular songs as they celebrated with Hero Lager, a premium beer brand from the stable of International Breweries, a member of the AB InBev group.

Themed the Bridge Edition, this show was significant as it connected the brand with its teeming consumers. With the yearly music extravaganza, the International Breweries is celebrating its customers for their patronage and loyalty, while identifying with the culture and the traditions of the people of the South-Eastern part of the country.

As a brand that has always represented the South East of Nigeria, the music fiesta would always identify symbolic landmarks that typify South East, and for this year’s edition, the Niger Bridge. Speaking at the event, Marketing Director, International Breweries (IB) Plc., Mrs. Tolu Adedeji said “every year, the Hero fiesta attracts thousands of fans who are loyal to the brand and appreciate what it stands for.

“We made the decision to make Onitsha the venue of our annual fiesta as a way of appreciating the acceptance and the loyalty enjoyed by Hero Lager beer and it gets bigger and better with each passing year. We hope to continue bringing so much value to our customers and maintaining the good relationship,” she added.

Launched into the Nigerian market in August 2012, the beer brand worked its way into the hearts of consumers in the South East region, who christened it ‘Oh Mpa’ (meaning father in Igbo language). The premium lager was recently knighted with a new crown cork (a red cork) and with the title of ‘Dike Mba Nile’.

According to the Marketing Manager, Hero Lager, Obumneke Okoli, “Hero is a well-established brand in the east and International Breweries Plc., is tremendously thrilled to bring to the customers a night packed with fun and excitement as a way of expressing our unwavering gratitude to them.”

In addition to the fiesta, more winners emerged in the ‘HEROnaire mega promo’, a reward scheme that offers consumers (who are within the drinking age bracket of 18 and above) with N1million for eight weeks. The promo continues till January 2019. “Hero Lager is always glad to put a smile on the faces of its consumers and we are looking forward to rewarding even more consumers across the country, giving people the opportunity to win big and become HEROnaires,” said Godwin Oche, Sales Director, International Breweries Plc.

Its parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is the world’s largest brewer with over 400 beer brands. The International Breweries Plc was established in 1971 and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1995.

AB InBev consolidated its business stakes in Pabod Breweries Limited, Intafact Beverages Limited into its majority ownership of International Breweries Plc in a merger that was concluded in December 2017.

“Our dream is to bring people together for a better world. Beer as the original social network has been bringing people together for thousands of years. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time, and brew the best beers using the finest natural ingredients,” Oche added.