NICO ASSET MANAGER’s Offshore Product Offering Launch

13th March to 14th March, 2025

Client:  NICO Asset Managers

Assignment: Event Coordination, Event Management

Solution: NICO Asset Managers launched its new Offshore Investment product, allowing clients to invest in property outside the country. The launch events were held on March 13th at Mount Soche in Blantyre and March 14th at BICC in Lilongwe.

In partnership with Sanlam, NICO aims to provide clients with expert financial advice and insights on international property investments. Group CEO Daniel Dunga and his team worked tirelessly to bring this product to life, and the launch showcased their dedication and success. The event brought together invited guests from the financial sector and business community.

Mirage PR provided an exciting interactive activity. The interactive activity called Bumpy Road was designed to get the conversation started. Guests selected a mode of transportation—ranging from a salon car to a yacht—before navigating a journey filled with obstacles like flooding and broken bridges, symbolising investment challenges. The experience concluded with a private jet takeoff, representing offshore investment opportunities.

Highlights of the campaign

  • The Lilongwe event had 60 guests in attendance, while the Blantyre event hosted 70 guests.
  • Guests were delighted with the gift boxes, which featured a selection of books. These books tied into the product launch, since they mainly focused on wealth.
  • The décor was a major highlight, with impressive entrance and room decorations.
  • The interactive activity served as a great conversation starter, and guests were particularly intrigued by the placards.
  • Guests enjoyed networking opportunities while sharing breakfast.
  • Captivating highlight video that captured both launch events – that took place at Blantyre and Lilongwe. This high impact video highlight was coordinated and produced by Mirage PR.

 

 

 

READ MORE

Director’s Retreat 2025

28th March to 30th March, 2025 

Client: NICO Group

Assignment: Event Coordination, Event Management

Solution: From March 28 to 30, 2025, NICO Group hosted a high-impact Directors’ Retreat at Sunbird Livingstonia and Waterfront Hotels in Salima. The retreat was designed to foster leadership excellence, strengthen collaboration, and celebrate the achievements of the Group’s top leadership. Mirage PR successfully managed and executed the event, working closely with NICO from planning through to delivery and post-event wrap-up.

The retreat began on Friday with Directors arriving throughout the day and being warmly welcomed at two reception points. A creative welcome activity involving a colour-by-number elephant painting was used to spark interaction, with numbers drawn also intended for team selection. Although the evening’s Braai Masters Competition saw an adjustment due to turnout, the Directors enthusiastically formed their own teams. The beachfront dinner that followed featured live music, fun games, and an engaging cooking competition led by CEOs as team head chefs. Teams competed using shared ingredients and braai stations, and winners received Malawi watches while the judges received appreciation gifts.

Saturday began with a morning aerobics session attended by 25 participants, despite minor delays due to music equipment. A timely and well-attended leadership conference followed, where the Group Managing Director and Board Chairman delivered key messages on leadership, commitment, and unity. In the evening, a Sundowner Cocktail eased into the Golden Gates Gala Dinner. Dressed in black tie, the Directors participated in an interactive fish tasting game called “Big Fish, Small Fish,” which emphasized strategic thinking in changing markets. The Gala featured inspiring speeches and entertainment, including a standout performance by Kell Kay, who personalized his songs to reflect NICO’s journey, followed by an open dance floor that extended into the night.

Sunday began with another aerobics session and a group photo, followed by tailored leisure activities. Directors had a choice of a game drive at Mkuyu Game Ranch, horseback riding, mountain biking, a guided self-drive tour at Kuti Game Reserve, or spa treatments at the Waterfront Garden. These included express manicures, pedicures, and massages. All activities concluded by 1:00 PM, after which the Directors enjoyed lunch and checked out. The retreat successfully blended strategic engagement with relaxation, reinforcing the theme of “ONE NICO” and positioning the Group as a unified, high-performing force in Malawi’s financial sector.

Highlights of the campaign

  • A total of about 70 Directors attended the retreat for the entire three days.
  • The Directors fully immersed themselves in all of the activities at the retreat beginning from painting all the way to the Sunday activities, and expressed genuine enjoyment.
  • There was ample brand presence at the event and a considerable number of directors commended the aesthetics, i.e., stage, lighting, etc.
  • The Braai Masters Competition encouraged teamwork while still encouraging the competitive spirit, and the participants continued to discuss and make references to it the whole weekend.

 

 

READ MORE

ONE NICO EXECUTIVE GOLF CHALLENGE

The One Executive Golf Challenge

9th September and 30th September, 2023 (Blantyre and Lilongwe

Client: NICO Group

Assignment: Event Concept and Coordination

Solution:  The NICO Group of companies, which includes NBS Bank Plc and Eris Properties, engaged Mirage PR to conceptualise and coordinate the ONE NICO Executive Golf Challenge. This golf tournaments were held under the theme “Strokes of Genius” and this was a term that was used to marry business performance with the game of golf through golfing tips. The Blantyre edition was held at Country Club Limbe on the 9th of September, 2023 while the Lilongwe edition was held at Lilongwe Golf Club on the 30th of September, 2023. 

 

 

 

READ MORE

NICO Group Cocktail: The Billionaire Escapade

NICO Group Cocktail: The Billionaire Escapade

Date: 28th September, 2023 

Client: NICO Group 

Assignment:  Event Concept and Event Coordination

Solution: The NICO Group engaged Mirage PR to conceptualize and coordinate its customer appreciation efforts through a well-curated cocktail. The event which was held at The Kumbali Lodge in Lilongwe took place on a Thursday, 28th of September from 6PM to 10 PM. The event was themed “The Billionaire Escapade” and the purpose of the event was to engage with and treat the stakeholders to an exciting memorable experience, as well as celebrate The Group’s success testified by impressive mid-year financial performance results.

Stakeholders were treated to a unique one-of-a-kind experience during the event, as they were required to play Monopoly in real time. This was an exciting and memorable experience for many of the patrons and the event was both exciting and educational.

 

READ MORE

NICO ASSET MANAGERS COFFEE EXPERIENCE

Date: 29th August and 31st August, 2023 (Lilongwe and Blantyre) 

Client: NICO ASSET MANAGERS 

Assignment:  Concept Development and Event Coordination

Solution: NICO Asset Managers (NAM) engaged mirage PR to coordinate and conceptualize an event that would be able to engage prospective clients, to share their solutions. The NICO Coffee experience was an experiential marketing activity that delivered a curated brand experience for the prospective clients. The Lilongwe event was held on the 29th of August, 2023 and it took place at the Bingu International Convention Centre (B.I.C.C). While the Blantyre event took place at Ryalls hotel on the 31st August, 2023. 

 

READ MORE

CDHIB Staff Engagement

5th August, 2022

Client: CDH Investment Bank

Assignment:  Concept and Event Coordination  

Solution:  CDH Investment Bank assigned Mirage PR to conceptualize and coordinate the bank’s Staff Engagement Launch as part of the Banks 10-year celebrations. The events were held to allow staff and executive members of the Bank to celebrate a decade of creating value as an Investment Bank. Mirage PR also organized an award segment as part of the celebrations and this was well received by patrons. Both events were implemented and coordinated expertly and this was attested by the excitement exuded by the staff.

 

READ MORE

NICO GROUP EASTER ACTIVITIES

7th – 10th April, 2023

Client: NICO Group 

Assignment: Concept and Event Coordination 

Solution:  Mirage PR was assigned by the NICO Group to execute and coordinate an experiential activity for children and adults. Children were left for 15 minutes and engaged in various activities such as face painting, Sip and Paint, Treasure hunt and bunny board. This was a great way to celebrate the Easter holiday while creating a memorable with experience for the children with the brand. It was a wonderful way to create brand engagement in a unique and fun way.

READ MORE

NICO 50 years anniversary Gala

18th March, 2022

Client: NICO

Assignment:  Event Coordination

Solution: The NICO Group assigned Mirage PR to coordinate the One NICO 50 Years Anniversary Celebrations. Activities designed to commemorate the golden jubilee included staff engagements in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu during the day and a gala dinner in the evening. The gala was spiced up by a live performance from Eli Njuchi and this was followed by a performance by Lucius Banda. Guests also walked away with branded gifts after the event. All in all, guests commended the event and thoroughly enjoyed the proceedings during the gala. It was a great way for NICO to engage with their customers and a way for staff to enjoy such a huge milestone in the company’s existence.

READ MORE

CDH Investment Bank 10 Years Gala Dinners

1st October and 8th October, 2022

Client:  CDH Investment Bank

Assignment:  Concept and Event Coordination

Solution:  CDH Investment Bank (CDHIB) assigned Mirage PR to coordinate gala dinners as part of its 10-year anniversary celebrations. The gala dinners took place in Blantyre at Sunbird Mount Soche and in Lilongwe at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) on the 1st and 8th of October, respectively. The Blantyre event was graced by Dr Wilson T. Banda, reserve bank governor which made it a momentous occasion. At both galas, there was airing of the 10-year video (TVC) and presentation of awards to longest serving staff and previous CEOs. Mirage PR ensured that these galas were expertly executed and enjoyed media coverage to boost visibility of the overall 10-year anniversary. 

 

READ MORE

NICO Directors Retreat

 

31st March – 2nd April, 2023

Client: NICO

Assignment: Event Coordination

Solution:  NICO Group assigned Mirage PR to coordinate the brand’s Directors Retreat that took place in Mangochi District from the 31st March to 2nd April, 2023. The retreat catered for 60 participants including Board Directors of all NICO Subsidiaries, Group EXCO, all NICO Company CEOs and Company Secretaries. The exciting retreat was held for 3 days – half day activities on day of arrival, full day activities on second day and half day activities on the day of departure.

 

READ MORE