Ben Murray-Bruce

Last updated

Evelyn Murray-Bruce
​
​
(m. 1980;died 2021)​
Ben Murray-Bruce
OON
Senator for Bayelsa East
In office
9 June 2015 –9 June 2019
Children4
Alma mater
Occupation
Known for Silverbird Group
Website

Benedict Murray-Bruce OON (born 18 February 1956) is a Nigerian business magnate and politician. He is the founder of Silverbird Group. [1] [2] [3] A member of the People's Democratic Party, he was elected to the Senate of Nigeria in March 2015 where he represented the Bayelsa East Senatorial District, in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Ben Murray-Bruce was born in Lagos, to mixed race Ijaw parents Mullighan and Margaret Murray-Bruce who both hail from Akassa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. [5] His surname is of Scottish origin. He attended Our Lady of Apostles, Yaba, Lagos, [6] where he completed his primary education and St Gregory College, Obalende where he obtained the West African School Certificate before he proceeded to the University of Southern California in the United States, where he received a bachelor's degree in Marketing in 1979. [7]

Personal life

Ben Murray-Bruce was married to Evelyn Murray-Bruce for 41 years. On 20 March 2021, he announced her passing after battling with cancer. [8] [9] [10]

Career

Early beginnings

Ben has served in various public positions. He served as Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority from 1999 to 2003. Prior to starting Silverbird Group, he promoted the Miss Universe Nigeria Pageant in 1983, Miss Intercontinental Pageant, 1986-1994 and to date, he promotes the annual Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant which he began in 1986. He is currently a Member of the Board of National Arts Theatre, Nigerian Film Corporation, Federal Films Censors Board, National Film Distribution Company and Nigerian Anti- Piracy Action Committee. [11]

Show business

In an interview with Connect Nigeria, Ben said he got into show business "by accident". [12] His passion for show business made him and his wife to establish the now defunct Silverbird Magazine in 1980 with a loan from his father. Ben later went into promoting concerts. [13]

Politics

In 2011, Ben Murray-Bruce ran for the governorship of Bayelsa State which was unsuccessful after he was screened out of the gubernatorial race under the umbrella of the People's Democratic Party. [14] On 27 October 2014, Ben later declared his intention to represent Bayelsa East Senatorial District at the National Assembly under the umbrella of the People's Democratic Party which he went on to win. [15] [16]

Public speaking

Bruce has spoken at a number of national and international events, in January 2018 he shared the stage alongside politicians and thought leaders at the inaugural Nigerian American Business Forum in Tampa, Florida, figures such as; senator Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, Media pioneer Biodun Shobanjo, NSE chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, motivational speaker Fela Durotoye, former governor Peter Obi and Award-winning technologist Ade Olufeko. [17]

Awards and recognition

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayelsa State</span> State of Nigeria

Bayelsa is a state in the South South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. The capital, Yenagoa, is susceptible to high risk of annual flooding. It shares a boundary with Rivers State to the east and Delta State to the north across the Niger River for 17 km and the Forçados River for 198 km, with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean dominating its southern borders. It has a total area of 10,773 square kilometres (4,159 sq mi). The state comprises eight local government areas: Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Yenagoa, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Brass and Southern Ijaw. The state is the smallest in Nigeria by population as of the 2006 census. Being in the Niger Delta, Bayelsa State has a riverine and estuarine setting, with bodies of water within the state preventing the development of significant road infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bola Tinubu</span> President of Nigeria since 2023

Chief Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu is a Nigerian politician who is the 16th and current president of Nigeria. He was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007; and senator for Lagos West in the Third Republic.

George Akume ; born 27 December 1953) is a Nigerian politician who is the current and 21st Secretary to the Government of the Federation, appointed by President Bola Tinubu. He served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2023. He was the Senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2019. He was also the Minority Leader of the Senate from June 2011 to June 2015. He served as the Governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria</span> Beauty pageant

The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria – often abbreviated as MBGN – is a pageant organised by Silverbird Group with the main purpose of sending representatives to international competitions. Originally known as Miss Universe Nigeria, it was renamed Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria after news publishers Daily Times lost their license to send delegates from rival contest Miss Nigeria to Miss World. Since 2005, the pageant has produced multiple representatives, but the MBGN World recipient is considered the overall winner. Miss Universe Nigeria was reestablished in 2023, breaking away from MBGN and operating as an entirely different pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atiku Abubakar</span> Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007

Atiku Abubakar ; born 25 November 1946) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He ran as governor of Adamawa State in 1990, 1996, and in 1998, when he was finally elected before he became Obasanjo's running mate during the 1999 presidential election and was re-elected in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Obi</span> Nigerian politician and businessman (born 1961)

Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as governor of Anambra from March to November 2006, February to May 2007, and June 2007 to March 2014. In May 2022, he became the Labour Party candidate for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rabiu Kwankwaso</span> Nigerian politician (born 1956)

Mohammed Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE FNIQS is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Kano state from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. After he lost his re-election in 2003, he was appointed the first Minister of Defence of the Fourth Republic with no prior military background from 2003 to 2007, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was later elected to the Senate in 2015, serving one term under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Kano Central Senatorial District.

Heineken Lokpobiri is a Nigerian politician who is the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil). He previously served as minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019, and as Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015. He is a former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

Adawari Michael Pepple was elected Senator for the Rivers South East constituency of Rivers State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999.

Oluremi "Remi" Tinubu is a Nigerian politician and current first lady of Nigeria since 2023, as wife of President Bola Tinubu. She was the first lady of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 when her husband was governor. She was the senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian National Assembly from 2011 to 2023. She is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Progressives Congress</span> Nigerian political party

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Nigeria, along with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Founded on 6 February 2013 from a merger of Nigeria's three largest opposition parties, the party came to power following the victory of party candidate Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election. This marked the first time in Nigerian history that an opposition party unseated a governing party and power was transferred peacefully.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Umahi</span> Nigerian politician (born 1963)

David Nweze Umahi is a Nigerian politician who serves as the minister of works of Nigeria. He previously served as the senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District between June and August 2023, and as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023, and deputy governor from 2011 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silverbird Group</span> Multi-media company in Nigeria

The Silverbird Group is a diversified multi-media company with holdings in Radio, Television, Real Estate, and Cinemas headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. The company was established in 1980 by Ben Murray-Bruce and counts Silverbird Cinemas and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) and Mr Nigeria pageants amongst its holdings. Its businesses divisions are Silverbird Properties, Silverbird Film Distribution, Silverbird Communications, Silverbird Cinemas, Silverbird Production, and Dream Magic Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Nigerian general election</span>

General elections were held in Nigeria on 25 February 2023 to elect the president and vice president and members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari was term-limited and could not seek re-election for a third term. This election was seen as the tightest race since the end of military rule in 1999.

The 2023 Kebbi State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Kebbi State, concurrent with elections to the Kebbi State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Nigerian presidential election</span>

The 2023 Nigerian presidential election was held on 25 February 2023 to elect the president and Vice President of Nigeria. Bola Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State and nominee of the All Progressives Congress, won the election with 36.61% of the vote, which is about 8,794,726 total votes. Runners-up were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party, and former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi, Labour Party. Other federal elections, including elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate, held on the same date while state elections were held on 18 March. The inauguration was held on 29 May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Nigerian elections</span>

The 2023 Nigerian elections were held in large part on 25 February and 11 March 2023. The president and vice president were elected on 25 February, with incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari ineligible to run, being term-limited. Additionally, there were also elections on the same day for the Senate and the House of Representatives. On 11 March, twenty-eight gubernatorial elections were held alongside elections to state houses of assembly in all 36 states. Three additional gubernatorial elections will be held later in the year alongside potential rerun elections for regularly scheduled elections annulled from earlier in the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Issues in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election</span>

The issues in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election are economic, human, and political issues that were discussed prior to and during the general campaign period from the end of the primary period in June 2022 and the final day of campaigning in February 2023.

Miss Universe Nigeria - abbreviated as MUN - is an annual national pageant held to select a Miss Universe delegate. 2023 marked a revival of the original contest organised by Silverbird Productions, Nigeria's Miss Universe franchise holder since 1983. The winner automatically becomes Nigeria's Miss Universe delegate, while the 1st runner-up is the Miss Supranational representative.

References

  1. ↑ "Personality of The Week: Ben Murray Bruce". Silverbird TV. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Ben Bruce woos Atiku, Tinubu, Obi: Forget politics, work with me to rescue Nigeria". Vanguard News. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Gbadebo, Bode (29 May 2022). "2023: Process To Rebuild Nigeria Starts Now, Ben Bruce Reacts To Atiku's Victory" . Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Ben Bruce loses mother". Punch Newspapers. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Tinubu visits Ben Bruce family as Senator Akanbi reels out condolence message over loss of mom". Vanguard News. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Senator Ben Murray-Bruce: Trail Blazer turns 60". Vanguard News. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Richard Osunde (13 March 2013). "Ben Murray Bruce". Biography Home. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "BREAKING: Ben Murray-Bruce loses wife of 41 years to cancer". Vanguard News. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Ex-senator, Murray-Bruce, loses wife to cancer | Premium Times Nigeria". 20 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "Ben Murray-Bruce loses wife to cancer". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ben Murray-Bruce". Bloomberg News . Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Florence Amagiya (27 December 2014). "A peep into Ben Bruce business empire". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ben Murray Bruce". MTVBase Meets. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Emmanuel Aziken; Samuel Oyadongha; Henry Umoru (14 November 2011). "Bayelsa Guber ticket: PDP finally drops Sylva, Alaibe, Bruce". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  15. ↑ Timothy Enietan-Matthews (28 October 2014). "Ben Murray-Bruce joins race for Senate". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  16. ↑ CKN Nigeria (30 March 2015). "Ben Bruce Wins Election into The Senate". CKN Nigeria. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "Obasanjo, Gov. Ahmed, Dabiri-Erewa, others to attend investment forum in U.S." Vanguard News. Vanguard (Nigeria). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  18. ↑ Richard Akinwumi (29 September 2014). "Jonathan names Nigeria's national flag designer, Akinkunmi, special aide for life". Premium Times. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.