Nigerian singer, filmmaker and entrepreneur Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has opened up about his life after losing the 2023 House of Representatives election, revealing that he is now serving as a pastor and working in academia while continuing to pursue his creative interests.
Banky W, who recently marked his first anniversary as a pastor, said the electoral defeat left him heartbroken but ultimately prompted him to seek God’s direction and rethink his understanding of purpose, career and faith.
Key Highlights
- Banky W says losing the 2023 election left him heartbroken but reshaped his understanding of purpose.
- The entertainer has marked his first anniversary as a pastor.
- He disclosed that he serves as an associate pastor and global ambassador at We Are Union Church.
- Banky W also works as a teacher and leader at Union College.
- He said his responsibilities involve travelling between Lagos and the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
- The former Eti-Osa House of Representatives candidate lost the 2023 election to Labour Party candidate Thaddeus Attah.
- Banky W says he is not abandoning entertainment despite his growing ministry and academic commitments.
Banky W Reflects on Heartbreak After 2023 Election Defeat
In a lengthy social media post, Banky W reflected on the disappointment he experienced after losing the 2023 election and how the experience influenced his subsequent decisions.
He admitted that the outcome was emotionally difficult, although it eventually led him to reconsider his plans and seek spiritual direction.
“In 2023, I lost an election. And while the experience inspired me in many ways, it also broke my heart into a million little pieces,” he wrote.
According to the entertainer, the setback forced him to surrender his plans to God and reconsider whether his future should revolve around politics, entertainment, business or ministry.
He said he eventually realised that pursuing different interests did not necessarily conflict with his purpose.
“Turns out, God wasn’t trying to put me in a box. He was expanding my assignment,” Banky W wrote.
Banky W Reveals New Roles as Pastor and Academic
The singer disclosed that he currently serves as an associate pastor and global ambassador at We Are Union Church.
He also revealed that he works as a teacher and leader at Union College, highlighting his growing involvement in ministry and education.
Banky W acknowledged the demands of travelling between Lagos and the Washington, DC, metropolitan area but described the experience as worthwhile.
He also expressed gratitude to church leaders Stephen Chandler and Zai Chandler, crediting them with contributing to his spiritual journey, family life and personal development.
His latest disclosure marks a new chapter for the entertainer, who has pursued careers in music, filmmaking, entrepreneurship and politics.
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Banky W Says He Is Not Leaving Entertainment
Despite his growing responsibilities in ministry and academia, Banky W made it clear that he is not walking away from the entertainment industry.
His comments suggest that he intends to maintain his creative interests while balancing his religious and academic commitments.
The entertainer has built a career in Nigeria’s music and film industries, earning recognition as a singer, filmmaker and entrepreneur before expanding into politics.
His latest reflections indicate that he sees his different professional interests as parts of a broader purpose rather than competing career paths.
Banky W’s Political Journey and 2023 Election Loss
Banky W contested the House of Representatives election for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos State in both 2019 and 2023.
In the 2023 contest, he lost to Labour Party candidate Thaddeus Attah, who was declared the winner.
Although the defeat disrupted his political ambitions, Banky W said the experience eventually helped him reassess his priorities and embrace new opportunities.
Reflecting on his first year in ministry, he expressed gratitude for the journey and what he described as an expanding sense of purpose.
“One year down. A lifetime of purpose ahead,” he wrote.
His remarks offer a glimpse into how the entertainer has navigated life after the election loss while pursuing new responsibilities in ministry and academia.
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