WINNER EMERGES IN ACCESS BANK ART INITIATIVE

By NBF News

Winner emerges in Access Bank art initiative
March 19, 2010 03:10AM
Mirror the Masters, an Art initiative organised by Access Bank, has produced its first winner in the person of Omeke John Cross of Model Primary School, Nsukka.

The 13-year old boy's painting was adjudged the winning piece by a 5-man panel comprising Rasheed Babamosi, OFR, an artist and art collector of global repute, Ken Okoli of the Department of Visual Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Oliver Enwonwu, Executive Director, Ben Enwonwu Foundation, Nike Davies Okundaye, a renowned Nigerian artist and designer and Jimoh Buraimoh, one of Africa's most influential artists.

The prize-winning painting, the famous Idia mask which was displayed at Festac77, coincidentally was the icon for the brochure cover of the Access Bank national children art exhibition.

For emerging as the winner at the exhibition which produced over 400 paintings by children aged between 9 and 16 across Nigeria, Omeke John Cross, will embark on a fully-paid expense tour of the Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House to view Ben Enwonwu and Chinwe Roy's commissioned sculpture and painting of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom.

With the insights gained by the participants and the quality of paintings that came from the four geo-political zones, it could be conveniently said that the initiative has elevated the consciousness of a new generation of Nigerian artists.

As a socially responsible organisation, Access Bank has demonstrated commitment to environmental and social wellbeing through its investment in sports, education, health, arts and other initiatives.