‘Why we launched Union Bank centenary art challenge’

Union Bank Plc has launched the Centenary Art Challenge as part of celebrations marking its 100th anniversary. The bank Corporate Affairs and Corporate Communication head, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem said this at the launch of the centenary art challenge in Lagos. According to Ekezie-Ekaidem, said the competition which runs between June and September, 2017 is also designed […]

Union Bank Plc has launched the Centenary Art Challenge as part of celebrations marking its 100th anniversary.

The bank Corporate Affairs and Corporate Communication head, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem said this at the launch of the centenary art challenge in Lagos.

According to Ekezie-Ekaidem, said the competition which runs between June and September, 2017 is also designed to capture the bank’s historical essence among Nigerians in the last 100 years as well as its future in another 100 years.

 She said artists would be expected to interpret the iconic Union Bank stallion which has been the mainstay of the bank’s identity over the past century and was redesigned in 2015, to reflect a more agile and energetic institution following its transformation. 

“Talent development is one of our social responsibility focus areas and this competition is another initiative for Union Bank to impact in this area. We strongly believe that through the arts we can spur creativity and innovation in young people. To demonstrate our seriousness with this, we have secured the active participation of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria (GFA) and artists have been given reign to interpret the stallion using all forms of art,” she said.

Facilitator of the competition and Chief Executive Officer of One Draw, Segun Adejumo said monetary prizes will be awarded to the finalists and the ultimate winners. In the professional category comprising art graduates who are above 24 years, the winner will be awarded the sum of N1 million, while the first and second runners up will receive N500, 000 and N250,000 respectively.

In the amateur category which is for students in higher institutions, Adejumo said the winner will  receive N250,000. 

The bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Emeka Emuwa said, “Union Bank has a storied history in Nigeria and our 100th anniversary is a unique opportunity to tell our story to different audiences.  Artists are storytellers and this competition presents an opportunity to for this community to help us tell our story from the vantage of our iconic white stallion. We are excited to celebrate the many stories that will come across through the works that will be entered in the competition.”