How poor electricity supply forced my family to struggle — Ayra Starr

Nigerian Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr has advocated for stable electricity supply in Nigeria, saying unstable power supply negatively affected her childhood development.

Ayra Starr made the remarks at the Global Citizen NOW event held in New York, a video of which she shared on her social media platforms on Friday, May 15, 2026.

The singer said her life would have been different if she had grown up in a country with steady electricity supply.

She stressed that every Nigerian child has experienced electricity challenges, adding that the hardship contributed to shaping who she is today.

Ayra Starr recalled that erratic power supply affected her education, career development, and her family’s means of livelihood.

Ayra Starr said: “Every Nigerian child has faced some type of electricity issues. My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper.

“I used to assist her. We had to sell it quickly because we didn’t have electricity to store them.

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“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.”

The singer stated that access to steady electricity, even something as simple as a fan or air conditioning while studying, would have made a significant difference in her upbringing.

Ayra Starr called on African leaders to address electricity challenges across the continent, emphasising that every child deserved reliable power and basic social amenities for proper development.

The singer has since risen to global prominence, becoming one of Afrobeats’ leading stars with multiple awards and record-breaking streaming success.