THISDAY Correspondent Wins N1m Dining Voucher At Chinese Mooncake Festival

THISDAY Newspapers Correspondent Michael Olugbode, at the weekend, won a million Naira dining voucher at the 2024 Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Nigeria.

After winning the top prize, Olugbode was chosen in another draw for WeChat users, which resulted in him taking home two bottles of exotic spirits.

The China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, in collaboration with the China Cultural Centre and the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, organised the event, which took place on Saturday at the magnificent Chinese Silk Road Restaurant in Abuja’s Central Business District.

Electronic devices, TV boxes, dining vouchers, and health products were among the prizes awarded to Nigerians and Chinese guests who attended the event.

The ThisDay correspondent seat number 59 was chosen for the ultimate prize of the N1 million dining voucher in the final raffle for the seat after other prizes were drawn.

He was later chosen for another WeChat raffle, where he won two exotic bottles of spirit.

Speaking about the prizes, Michael Olugbode told journalists at the event that it could only have been divinely arranged because he was already planning to leave for home after almost all of the prizes had been won and the event had dragged on so long.

He said: “Something just kept urging me to wait until the end, especially since I had some colleagues to pick up in my vehicle.

“It was great to win the voucher, and I would like to thank the Chinese Embassy, Cultural Centre, China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, and Silk Road Restaurant for the two prizes.” InTheyave made me an ambassador for Chinese culture and the Mooncake Festival.”

The Mooncake Festival, one of the most popular Chinese festivals, was held in Nigeria to promote and strengthen people-to-people ties between China and Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, stated that the festival has been one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture for over 3,000 years.

He went on to say that the festival symbolises the harvest season and the idea that hard work pays off.

He stated: “Today’s celebration is very important and meaningful because Mid-Autumn, also known as ‘Mooncake Day,’ is one of the most important Chinese traditional festivals.

“This festival celebrates family reunions, friendship, and togetherness; as the popular Nigerian proverb goes, united we stand, divided we fall.

“To stand shoulder-to-shoulder, we will create a better future for our people and both countries.”

He went on to say, “In the future, China and Nigeria will collaborate to promote our tangible and intangible cultural heritage, thereby strengthening our cultural exchange and cooperation.”

Li also mentioned that the festival was frequently celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which is usually in September or October, when the moon is very full and large.