Nigerian Artists Shine In BIC’s Art Master Ballpoint Pen Competition

Nigerian artists have been announced as the regional and national winners of the sixth edition of BIC’s ballpoint pen art competition, Art Master Africa.

The competition was launched earlier this year and called on creatives to depict their interpretation of Ubuntu (One Africa), this year’s competition’s theme, using the iconic BIC ballpoint pen.

This year, the event held in partnership with Alliance Francaise, Lagos hosted numerous local artists, government stakeholders and members of the Nigerian art community. Nigerian artist, Joseph Akpan was awarded the title of regional winner, while Joshua Makinde emerged as the national winner with his artwork. All the artwork underscored Africa’s interdependence and cultural resilience.

Art Master Africa selected three regional winners and six national winners across the continent.

The top regional winner received a grand cash prize of $2,000, an exclusive feature in the Art Master Africa Metaverse Gallery, and an opportunity for inclusion in BIC’s global Art Collection. The second and third-place winners were awarded $1,000 and $500 respectively.

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Speaking, the marketing director for BIC Middle East and Africa and Art Master Africa’s custodian, Gregory Alibaux stated, “we are proud of running Art Master Africa for the sixth year in a row. The competition has come a long way, starting in South Africa in 2017 and expanding into the wider region.

“We continue to be in awe every year after seeing the submissions we receive from the region, and we are confident that we will continue to help more talent surface through this flagship competition.”

Judge Gary Eric added, “the artworks we received are a testament to the incredible talent and creativity on the African continent. Each piece reflects the artist’s individual talents while connecting to the broader message of unity and harmony across African communities. As the judging panel, we were very impressed with this year’s submissions.”

The regional winner, Joseph Akpan enthused, said, “this year’s theme, Ubuntu, holds deep meaning for me, as it speaks to the power of unity and community in Africa. I appreciate BIC for providing a platform that not only celebrates African talent but also empowers artists like me to tell our stories to the world.”

Also speaking at the event, National winner Joshua Makinde stated that “this platform has given me and countless others an opportunity to express our creativity on a large scale, and I encourage fellow artists to join and share their visions with the world.”

Since its launch, Art Master Africa has expanded into a prominent platform, welcoming artists from Africa and, more recently, the Middle East. In Nigeria, BIC has forged meaningful partnerships with influential organizations such as Alliance Française, playing a key role in supporting the country’s thriving art community.