LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has shared how Nigeria’s unstable electricity supply shaped her childhood, revealing the challenges her family faced while growing up.
The singer made the revelation during the Global Citizen NOW event in New York, where she reflected on the daily struggles many Nigerian children face due to unreliable power.
The “Rush” hitmaker said that growing up without steady electricity forced her family to adapt constantly.
She recalled helping her grandmother sell tomatoes and peppers, explaining that they often rushed to sell the goods because there was no electricity to preserve them.
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“Every Nigerian child has faced some type of electricity issues. My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper and I used to assist her. We had to sell it quickly because we didn’t have electricity to store them,” she said.
The award-winning singer noted that the difficult conditions helped shape her resilience and work ethic.
She explained that learning to survive without basic comforts pushed her to become resourceful from a young age.
“The harsh experience made me who I am today. Because I had to find ways to do what I had to do without the comfort of electricity,” Starr added.
Starr also reflected on how stable power could have improved her childhood experience, especially during her school years.
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She noted that access to simple comforts like air conditioning or even a fan while studying would have made life easier.
“Growing up, having electricity would have made a big difference. If I came back from school and I had AC or even a fan in the heat while doing my assignments, that would have made a big difference,” she stated.
The Afrobeats star used the platform to call on African leaders to prioritize electricity access and other essential social amenities for children across the continent.
Starr stressed that reliable power is necessary for proper development and better opportunities for future generations.
