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Benedict Murray-Bruce OON (born 18 February 1956) is a Nigerian business magnate and politician. He is the founder of Silverbird Group. 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.

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. His surname is of Scottish origin. He attended Our Lady of Apostles, Yaba, Lagos, 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.

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.

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.

Show business

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

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. 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.

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.

Awards and recognition

• "Showbiz Icon of the Year Award" (2005)
• ""Top Ten" Significant Nigerian Businessmen Award" (2006)
• "Life Achiever Award" (2006)
• "Champion for Nation Building Award" (2007)
• "Excellent Personality Award" (2009)
• "Officer of the Order of the Niger" (2014)

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.

External links

• Ben Murray-Bruce's official website Archived 25 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine
• Official Ben Murray-Bruce handle on Twitter

• Living people
• 1956 births
• Nigerian television journalists
• University of South Carolina alumni
• Nigerian television company founders
• Businesspeople from Lagos
• 20th-century Nigerian businesspeople
• 21st-century Nigerian businesspeople
• Ijaw people
• St Gregory's College, Lagos alumni
• Peoples Democratic Party members of the Senate (Nigeria)
• Silverbird Group
• Beauty pageant owners
• Nigerian government officials
• Officers of the Order of the Niger
• Members of the Senate (Nigeria) from Bayelsa State
• Senators of the 8th National Assembly (Nigeria)