Nigerian singer, filmmaker and politician Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has reflected on how his defeat in the 2023 election prompted him to seek God’s direction and reassess his purpose, as he marked his first anniversary in pastoral ministry in the United States.

Banky W shared his experience in a post on Instagram, explaining that the election loss left him heartbroken but eventually led him to reconsider how his interests in politics, entertainment, business and ministry could work together.

“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.

The entertainer said he turned to God for guidance after the election, surrendering his plans and seeking clarity on the next phase of his life.

“When the dust settled, I took those pieces back to God. And I surrendered,” he said.Banky W recalled questioning whether his future lay in political leadership or ministry, entertainment or business, and the marketplace or religious service.

He said he later realised that he had been treating these interests as separate paths, despite believing that God had not asked him to choose one over the others.

The singer said the experience helped him understand his calling as an expansion of his responsibilities rather than a decision to abandon his existing professional pursuits.

“Turns out, God wasn’t trying to put me in a box. He was expanding my assignment,” he added.Banky W said he continues to work across different fields, including filmmaking, music and entrepreneurship, while serving as a pastor and professor in the United States.

His reflection came as he marked one year in pastoral ministry, highlighting how his experience following the 2023 election influenced his understanding of his professional and spiritual commitments.