Ben Murray-Bruce MON was born 18
February, 1956. The Nigerian business magnate and politician is now a senator
representing Bayelsa East Constituency and founder of Silverbird Group. He was
born in Lagos to an Ijaw parent Mullighan and Magrate Murray-Bruce who hail
from Akassa, Bayelsa State.
Ben attended Our Lady of
Apostles, Yaba, Lagos where he completed his primary education and St. Gregory
College, Obalende where he obtained his West African Senior Certificate before
he proceeded to the University of South Carolina in the United States where he
received a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 1979. Ben 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 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.
Although Ben Bruce confessed
delving into show business by accident, his passion for show business made him
and his wife establish the defunct Silverbird Magazine in 1980 with a loan from
his father.
He later went into promoting concerts.
Ben Bruce in a bid to make sense
kicked off his political ambition first by running for governorship of Bayelsa
State in 2011; he was screened out of the gubernatorial race under the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) umbrella. On October 27, 2014 he returned with the
intention to represent Bayelsa East Senatorial District at the National
Assembly under the same umbrella.
He has gotten lots of recognition
for his contribution to humanity locally and international, from government and
private sector as well as NGOs. Some of the awards are:
- Showbiz Icon of the Year -2005
- Top Ten Sgnificant Nigerian Businessmen Award -2006
- Life Achievers Awards -2006
- Excellent Personal Awards -2009
- Champion for Nation Building Award -2007
- Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (Special Recognition Awards) -2010
- Officer of the Order of the Niger -2014
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