Ayra Starr: Poor Electricity in Nigeria Hindered Her Growth

Afrobeats artist Ayra Starr has said that Nigeria’s unreliable power supply had a negative effect on her upbringing.

During the Global Citizen NOW event in New York, the singer explained that a steady electricity supply would have altered her life trajectory.

Starr noted that inadequate power affected her schooling, career prospects, and even her family’s way of earning a living.

She said, “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.”

“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.”

“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.”

Ayra Starr urged African leaders to tackle the continent’s electricity problems, emphasizing that every child deserves reliable power and other essential services for healthy development.