Nigerian singer, filmmaker and entrepreneur Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has reflected on his journey into pastoral ministry, describing how a major setback in his political career helped him reconsider his purpose and direction.
The entertainer shared his reflections while marking the first anniversary of his pastoral service at Union Church in the United States, where he serves as an associate pastor and global ambassador.
Banky W recalled that he once joked that the letter “P” in his nickname, P.Banks, stood for “Professor” rather than “Pastor”. Looking back, he suggested that his eventual entry into pastoral ministry had given the joke an unexpected meaning.
“I used to joke that the ‘P’ in P.Banks stood for Professor, not Pastor. I guess God heard and said, ‘Why not both?’” he wrote.
He also reflected on losing the 2023 House of Representatives election, in which he contested the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in Lagos State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to Banky W, the electoral defeat left him deeply hurt and prompted him to seek clarity about his future in politics, entertainment, business and ministry.
He said he eventually came to understand that the different aspects of his professional life did not necessarily have to be separated.
The singer has continued to pursue music, filmmaking and business alongside his religious responsibilities and academic work.
His latest reflection offers a glimpse into a period of personal reassessment following an electoral setback, while highlighting his decision to approach the experience as an opportunity to redefine his priorities.
Banky W’s transition into pastoral ministry marks another chapter in a career that has spanned Nigerian music, film, entrepreneurship and public service.