By Eric Elezuo

It was a distinct show of excellence, glamour and reward for achievement as a crowd of multilevel marketers attached to leading healthcare group, Healthgarde International, gathered to celebrate 30 years of wellness, empowerment and creation of happiness.

It was more of a gathering of champions, headliners and Nigerians, who has distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavours, having made the choice of partnering with the leading brand, Healthgarde. 

Healthgarde International is a global firm proudly founded and run by African women for Africa, under the leadership of Nneka Nwarueze. 

The grand hall of Highpoint Event Centre in the heart of Agidingbi GRA in Ikeja, was a beehive of activities as early as 10am on D-day with members and their families and friends already seated and networking in earnest just as the event anchor, Hyenana Comedian, Kick-started proceedings with the invitation of the chief host and Chief Executive Officer, Healthgarde International, Mrs Nneka Nwarueze.

In her opening remarks, Nwarueze went down memorylane to trace the developmental strides of the brand since its days as Swissgarde to the present, noting that in 30 years of existence, lives have been affected and destinies either changed or reversed for the very best.

She acknowledged that just like many distinguished brands, the journey of 30 years has been ‘rough, tough and challenging’, noting that as organizers, they are not breaking even byt sustained by the that gesture to ensure that thousands of members are well taken care of, and not told stories.

“We have an active base of over 12,000 distributors in Nigeria and in Southern Africa, over 20,000 of them. My experience in this business is over 30 years since Swissgarde. Our business network and networth is spread across the United States, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Ghana, Uganda, Botswana, and is still growing.

“Today, we are happy to celebrate our top achievers whose dedicated efforts continue to give our high-quality health products increasing market share. We also introduced into the global market today our new offering – the Healthgarde Relax Tea, which everyone here today received as gift in their souvenir bags. It is rich in antioxidants and boosts the immune system,” Nwarueze said.

She further encouraged the networkers never to relent as the business has consistently paid off for them, and proved to be a mainstay in today’s Nigeria’s economy.

“Our gathering today is to unleash the reward system for those who have done so well in the year under review,” she added.

Among an array of winners from various categories on the day was the Mrs. Benita Okonkwo, who emerged as the Star of Africa, coasting to victory as the member that made the best overall impact in the year under review.

Benita Okonkwo led the array of over 20 winners in different categories. She emerged a double winner as Business Leader of the Year and Star of Africa as the Lagos convention of wellness and gathering of multilevel marketing giants held. 

Okonkwo who was obviously, but pleasantly surprised at her double win, had trumped the sales earnings and figures of every other Healthgarde consultant (as the firm’s salespersons are titled) within and outside Nigeria. Her crowning as ‘Star of Africa’ was done with pomp and pageantry with a blast of fireworks and confetti.

Other major award categories included Entrepreneur, Depot, Rising Star, Social Media Star, Staff, Top Performers and Recruiters of the Year, not to mention the series of lucky draw winners that spliced and spiced up the convention.

Other major winners on the day include Charity Ikedife, who emerged as the Staff of the Year, Oluwaseyi Funmi Hannah as Social Media Star, Bolanle Aina as Rising Star of the Year and Fatima Yusuf as Entrepreneur of the Year.

In an moment of excitement, so many women testified of how their multilevel marketing of Healthgarde products had upped their fortunes and mental wellness. Among them were Juliana Idakpo, Baba Ijebu and another, who used to hawk fairly used cloths (okirika). They won the awards as uplines and carted away several prizes including microwave ovens, refrigerator, washing machine, gas cooker, and flask.

Also at the event as its live wire, South Africa-based Chief Operating Officer, Healthgarde International, Lovelyn Bassey, explained: “Our products have deepened the global market and we are proud of the thousands of women who, despite growing economic hardships, spousal job losses, etc have been empowered to boost the wellness of Nigerians as well as create wealth to support their homes.”

The event was not without the spices that give every gathering the leverage that makes top notch as Dancerapy, a motivational dance led the audience into a dance choreography that was magnificent to behold.

Also, a special adviser to the Miniter of the Interior, Tunji-Ojo, was also on hand to give the guests a charge that inspired them into rooting for Healthgarde as a brand.

Responding separately to Point-blank.ng, both Mrs Nwarueze and Bassey called on the Federal government to give attention to multilevel marketing as it has proved to be reliable and rewarding.

“This is not ponzi scheme or what people know as MMM. It is a business venture that has stood the test of time, and been putting smiles on the lips of families. It is a Nigerian thing, and deserves the attention and support to the government to take it to greater heights,” the CEO and COO said separately.

Healthgarde, a first class health multilevel marketing organization, in 2020 stood on its own, away from Swissgarde. In those four years, the brand has held a reward for excellence gathering where the year is reviewed, and members made to smile home with mouthwatering prizes.