Ben Murray-Bruce Biography : The Silverbird Founder Who Took “Common Sense” From Showbiz to the Senate

Ben Murray-Bruce

Ben Murray-Bruce’s life reads like a Lagos evening—busy streets, bright lights, and a man walking through it all with a calm confidence that says, “I’ve been here before.” Before Nigerians knew him as a senator who loved “common sense” speeches, many already knew him as the media man who helped turn entertainment into a serious business.

He was born February 18, 1956, in Lagos.

A young man with big taste for business

His early years were shaped by structured schooling and a hunger to understand how money and brands work. Biographical profiles commonly list his education as including St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, and further studies in the United States, including Iowa State University and the University of Southern California.

But what really defined him wasn’t just where he studied—it was what he noticed: Nigerians loved music, shows, glamour, and big moments… yet the industry around it was still forming. Ben saw a gap and treated it like an invitation.

The Silverbird chapter: building a modern entertainment machine

In 1980, he founded what became the Silverbird Group, and over time it grew into a diversified media and entertainment company with radio, television, cinemas, and pageantry—one of the most visible entertainment brands in Nigeria.

Silverbird’s growth didn’t just create shows; it helped shape an era—popular radio culture, modern TV entertainment, cinema experiences, and pageants that became major national events.

From boardroom to Senate: when “common sense” became a slogan

After decades in private enterprise, Ben stepped into politics under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and won election as Senator for Bayelsa East, serving from June 9, 2015 to June 9, 2019.

In the Senate, he became known for his public commentary—often framed around practicality and reform, repeatedly pushing what many outlets described as his “common sense” advocacy.

A recent political turn

In a notable recent development, multiple Nigerian news outlets reported that in October 2025, he resigned from the PDP and moved to the APC, publicly praising reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Why his story sticks

Ben Murray-Bruce is remembered for two big things that rarely sit in one person:

• building a lasting entertainment/media institution (Silverbird),

• and then stepping into national politics with the confidence of someone used to managing big systems and public attention.