Founder of the Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, has revealed that he built the entertainment empire with a ₦20,000 loan borrowed from his siblings in 1980.
Speaking at the Infrastructure Dialogue 2026, organized by Deutsche Partners Holding in Abuja, the former senator recounted the difficult early years of his journey in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
According to him, his passion for entertainment began after watching a James Brown concert at the age of 13.
“James Brown’s concert was the first I ever saw in my life. I was 13 years old at that time,” he said.
Murray-Bruce explained that, despite his father’s opposition, he pursued a career in concert promotion immediately after graduating.
“All my life, I wanted to be a concert promoter. But my dad refused and said that wasn’t what I sent you to school to do,” he recalled.
The businessman said he organized about 20 concerts between 1980 and 1983, before the military coup that ousted former President Shehu Shagari disrupted his business operations.
“Once Shagari was overthrown, all hell broke loose,” he said.
“At that time, Buhari was the Head of State. All my shows were also cancelled. That was how they ruined my concert business.”
Murray-Bruce added that worsening economic conditions and foreign exchange instability further damaged the entertainment industry.
He noted that the naira moved from about ₦1.97 to one dollar in 1980 to roughly ₦4 to one dollar by 1983, affecting ticket prices and reducing attendance at shows.
“My ticket rates when I started were ₦5 to ₦10. In 1983, my last show was ₦15 to ₦20, and I lost 25 per cent of my audience,” he explained.
The former lawmaker also reflected on his time as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He revealed that he insisted on introducing 24-hour television broadcasting despite staff’s resistance, fearing equipment breakdown.
“I didn’t take ‘No’ for an answer,” he said.
Encouraging young entrepreneurs, Murray-Bruce advised them never to give up on their dreams despite economic challenges and obstacles.
“The key to success is your ability to dream,” he stated.
“Never imagine that you can’t be successful.”
