… Flags off 75th anniversary of its iconic Cristal pen
BIC has reinforced commitment to expanding access to quality learning tools and nurturing the next generation of creators and change-makers in Nigeria as the firm flags celebrates the 75th anniversary of the BIC Cristal ballpoint pen.
Anthony Amahwe, general manager at BIC Nigeria, speaking on the 75th anniversary and the firm’s commitment to improving access to learning tools, said, “As we celebrate this 75-year milestone, we are not only reflecting on the past but building a bold future.
“For over seven decades, BIC has built a legacy of delivering simple, reliable and accessible solutions that enhance everyday life from education and creativity to personal care and safety.
The BIC Cristal pen has empowered millions to learn, write, draw, and dream. We are proud of its legacy and even more committed to expanding its impact across Nigeria and the continent.”
Amahwe emphasised that the 75th anniversary is a continued commitment to championing creativity, supporting education, and driving meaningful change in the communities the firm serves.
Since its creation by Marcel Bich in 1950, the Cristal pen has written itself into history, crossing borders, generations, and cultures with over 100 billion units sold globally.
To mark this milestone, BIC has launched a year-long global campaign that honours the pen’s enduring legacy and deepens the brand’s impact across key pillars, education, creativity, and innovation.
The BIC Cristal pen was the first ballpoint pen to be mass-produced at scale, affordable, accessible, and built to last. Its sleek, minimalist design, marked by a hexagonal barrel, transparent body, and ventilated cap, has become instantly recognisable.
But beneath its simple exterior is precision engineering: each pen writes up to three kilometres and undergoes more than 70 quality checks in BIC-owned factories.
Its timeless form has earned a place in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, securing its legacy as a design icon that never goes out of style.
Read also: BIC focuses on driving innovation, business models to deliver values – Amahwe
Democratising education in Nigeria
With over 100 billion units sold globally, the BIC Cristal pen has become a trusted staple, valued for its reliability, simplicity, and timeless design.
In Nigeria, it has transcended generations, guiding students through their first essays and reaching underserved communities through education-focused initiatives. BIC remains committed to expanding access to learning tools as part of its long-term mission to democratize education.
These efforts align with BIC’s broader education goal: to improve learning conditions for 250 million children worldwide by 2025, a core pillar of its Writing the Future, Together sustainable development programme.
Collaborating with NGO’s, local schools, teachers and parents, the firm equips classrooms with essential writing and learning tools, ensuring students are better prepared for the academic year in commemoration of annual Global Education Week.
Fueling creativity through ‘Art Master Africa’
Beyond education, the firm also celebrates tools of self-expression. In Nigeria and across Africa, young talents have turned the pen into a medium of artistic storytelling through Art Master Africa, BIC’s pan-African visual arts competition.
The initiative challenges emerging artists to create masterpieces using only a BIC Cristal® pen, giving voice to a new generation of creatives while showcasing the pen’s versatility.
Since its launch, BIC’s Art Master Africa competition has engaged over 6,000 creatives from across the region, including seven Nigerian artists who have been recognised as national and regional winners.
Notably, BIC has expanded this platform into the digital realm with the launch of the Art Master Africa Metaverse Gallery- a first-of-its-kind virtual space for showcasing works from past and present winners and offering a virtual experience to art enthusiasts worldwide.
75 years of manufacturing excellence
The Cristal’s staying power lies not just in its function, but in how it is made. Manufactured exclusively in BIC-owned facilities, the pen’s production process adheres to the highest standards of quality, sustainability, and innovation.
Each unit is rigorously tested for performance, and the pen has earned the French NF Environnement Ecolabel for its durability and eco-conscious design.
