Banky W Biography

Banky W Biography, Net worth, Age, Wife, Career

Banky-W is a popular Nigerian rapper, singer, actor, and musician. His real name is Olubankole Wellington. He was born on the 27th of March 1981 in the United States to Nigerian parents. However, his family moved back to Nigeria when he was five years old. He started singing at a young age in his church choir. His primary and secondary school education was in Lagos and he returned abroad to further his tertiary education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York on a scholarship as an Engineering student.

He started his record label E.M.E in 2002 while studying. In 2009, he left the US for Nigeria and established his record label in Lagos where he signed artists like Niyola, Shaydee, Skales, and Wizkid to the label at the time. His big break debut studio album, Back in the Building was released in 2005. He wrote the first and popular theme song of Etisalat Nigeria titled “0809ja for life”.

On February 15, 2013, a day after Valentine, he launched his new album called “R&BW” with a concert tagged the “Grand Love Concert” at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos. At the concert, he featured several other record artistes including Iyanya and Waje. The first two singles on the album which also gained popularity are “Lowkey” and “Yes/No. This makes Banky-W the poster boy for Nigerian R&B music.

2017: DISSOLUTION OF E.M.E                 

Banky W announced in February 2018 that E.M.E was dissolved as a record label; he said the label is now a talent management company focused on creative marketing, advertising, PR and brand events.  Banky W also announced DJ Xclusive, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru, and his wife Adesua Etomi (all celebrities) as the first set of clients of the rebranded company. This goes to show that the best is yet to come from Banky-W. Following Banky-W’s growth over the years serves as a source of inspiration to many.

POLITICAL CAREER OF BANKY-W                                               

On November 11, 2018, Banky W declared his intention to run for the Lagos’ Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in Nigeria’s House of Representatives. He was going to do this on the platform of Modern Democratic Party, formed in 2017.

Later in an interview with Punch, Banky-W said he ventured into politics because of his desire to impact and improve his community and the desire to be a part of the progress all Nigerians wanted to see.

While many were skeptical of his move into politics, Banky-W received as much support from fans especially youths. Whether they indeed bought into his vision and thought him competent or they voted for him out of loyalty to his art is what we might never know.

However, on February 23rd, 2019, Banky Wellington lost the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency Elections to Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressive Congress.

PERSONAL LIFE OF BANKY-W

Banky-W got married to Adesua Etomi traditionally on 19 November 2017 and subsequently did his white wedding in South Africa on 25 November 2017. His relationship with Adesua was a pleasant surprise to many. Haven successfully kept their relationship a secret from the Social Media space, they both acted as couples in a popular movie titled, ‘Wedding party’ which further heightened the surprise to Nigerians when their relationship was announced. Banky-W is also loved by many because he does not have the ‘baby mama drama’ so accustomed to many other celebrities.

Banky-W is now a full time pastor. He was ordained at Tony Rapu's “This Present House Church” in Lekki, Lagos.

Banky-W also had a successful skin cancer surgery on his shoulder in 2017.

NET WORTH OF BANKY-W    

Banky-W makes money from the monetization of his content shared on various platforms like iTunes and Spinet. Ring Back Tunes (RBT) loyalties also add to his income. After the release of Ebute Metta, Banky W landed his first endorsement deal with Etisalat in 2008. Constative reports that this deal was worth N150 million. After becoming a brand ambassador for the Nigerian telecommunications company, he featured in their popular commercial, 0809ja for life.

The R&B pop star became the new face of Coca-cola Open and Win campaign after signing for an unknown figure. The 2012 deal lasted for three months.

He signed his major endorsement deal with Samsung Electronics West Africa in 2013. According to Ventures Africa, this deal was valued at about N140 million. This was after his initial 1-year endorsement deal with the company in 2011. The 2013 deal was renewed in 2017.

In 2014, the E.M.E record label boss switched telecommunication companies when he signed with MTN. It is believed to be valued at over N50 million, according to Constative. He extended the contract in 2015.

The Nation reported that he signed a new endorsement deal to be the ambassador of Ciroc Nigeria in 2014. Reportedly, it should be worth about N30 million. His deal to represent the brand was renewed in 2015 and later in 2017.

Banky’s latest deal is with Uber, a major ride-hailing technology in the country. This was announced on April 5, 2018. Banky-W’s Net worth is estimated to be #2.3 billion naira by Forbes.

PHILANTHROPY

Banky W gives back to the society with ‘I Am Capable’- a scholarship fund aimed at helping out smart students with tertiary scholarships. He is also one of the major advocates for the ‘LightupNigeria’ project aimed at achieving a steady power supply in Nigeria.

Ten Interesting facts about Banky W 

1. Banky W’s full name is Olubankole Wellington and he was born on 27th March 1981 in the United States to Nigerian parents. He is 39 years old in 2020.
2. He co-founded Empire Music Entertainment (E.M.E) with Tunde Demuren while he was still schooling in the US at the age of 21 in 2002,
3. Wellington released a rarely talked about EP titled Undeniable in 2003 and most of its track reappeared in his first studio album released in 2006 titled, Back in the Building.
4. He finally moved back to Nigeria in 2009 and he signed Wizkid and Skales to E.M.E in the same year as the first official signees of the record label.
5. On his return to Nigeria in 2009, he also wrote the first theme song for Etisalat Nigeria (now 9Mobile) titled 0809ja for Life.
6. Banky W’s first acting credit was in Funke Akindele’s 2011 The Return of Jenifa. He later made his major film appearance in 2016’s The Wedding Party.
7. Banky W and Adesua Etomi got married on 19th November 2017 after six months of engagement.
8. In 2018, Banky W announced that he was dissolving E.M.E. and turning it into a talent management company focused on creative marketing, advertising, PR and brand events. He also mentioned signing DJ Xclusive, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru, and his wife Adesua Etomi as clients.
9. Wellington lost the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency Elections to Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressive Congress in February 2019.
10. Banky W underwent successful surgery to treat skin cancer in October 2017, a case that he had treated on two occasions in the past already.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS OF BANKY-W     

Here is a list of Awards and Nominations of the Singer

John Lennon Song Writing Award 2006, R&B Category, for ‘My Regret’

Best R&B Artiste, Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2006

Best Male R&B Artiste, Urban Independent Music Awards, USA, 2006

Best International Album, Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2007 for ‘Mr Capable’

Best R&B Video, Nigerian Music Video Awards 2008 for ‘Don’t Break My Heart’

Best Male Vocal Performance, Hip hop World Awards 2009 for ‘Don’t Break My Heart’

R&B Single of the year, 2010 Hip Hop World Awards for ‘Strong Ting’

Best R&B Singer (Male) and Best Music Video 2010 City People Entertainment Awards