By Marion Rion Bangura
For years, owning a home remained a distant aspiration for Kenema resident Abu Fomba. That dream has now taken a remarkable turn after he emerged as the winner of Mercury International Sierra Leone Limited’s nationwide “Win Your Dream House” promotion.
Fomba has been handed the keys to a fully furnished two-bedroom bungalow at the TAF Salone Micro City Estate in John Obey, Freetown, marking the culmination of a four month promotional campaign by Mercury International.
The handover ceremony, held on Monday, brought together company representatives, invited guests and supporters as Fomba officially took possession of the property he won through the promotion.
The initiative, which ran from April 1 to July 20, was designed as a customer-reward programme, offering participants the opportunity to win a major prize with the potential to significantly transform their lives.
Following the conclusion of the promotional period, the final raffle draw was conducted on July 21 and 22, shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ultimately producing Fomba as the winner of the house.
Unlike conventional promotional prizes that may offer short-term financial benefits, Mercury International positioned the campaign around a tangible and long term asset home ownership.
For Fomba, the reward represents more than a promotional win. It provides him with a permanent residence and an asset that could potentially serve his family for years to come.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mercury International Managing Director Martin Edmond Michael said the promotion was conceived as a way of recognising and rewarding customers for their loyalty to the company.
He explained that the decision to offer a house as the grand prize was intended to provide a reward capable of making a lasting difference in the life of the eventual winner.
The initiative also reflects the growing use of customer promotions by businesses to deepen engagement with their clientele while creating opportunities for customers to benefit from major prizes.
For Mercury International, the completion of the promotion and handover of the property represents the fulfilment of the commitment made when the campaign was launched earlier in the year.
The company said the promotion attracted participation from across the country, highlighting the nationwide reach of its customer base.
The conclusion of the campaign has therefore placed Fomba at the centre of what has become a significant personal milestone.
At the handover, the newly acquired home was presented as a fully furnished two-bedroom bungalow, meaning the winner received not merely an empty structure but a residence prepared for occupation.
Located at TAF Salone Micro City Estate in John Obey, the property also places Fomba within a developing residential community outside central Freetown.
The story of Fomba’s win is particularly notable because it demonstrates how a promotional campaign can result in a life-changing reward for an individual customer.
From Kenema to John Obey, his journey from aspiring homeowner to property owner has transformed what was once a personal ambition into reality.
The handover also brings the curtain down on Mercury International’s four month “Win Your Dream House” promotion, which combined customer participation with the prospect of securing one of the most significant assets many Sierra Leoneans aspire to own.
As Fomba received the keys to his new home, the moment marked not only the end of the promotional campaign but the beginning of a new chapter for the winner and his family. For the Kenema resident, the house now stands as a tangible reminder of a promotion that turned the dream of home ownership into a reality.
