Nigerian music star Ayra Starr has sparked fresh conversation online after speaking candidly about her childhood experience with unstable electricity in Nigeria during the Global Citizen NOW summit held in New York City on Thursday, May 14.
The summit, which focused on equitable energy access and global development challenges, featured Ayra Starr in a conversation moderated by journalist Zain Asher. Her remarks quickly gained traction after clips from the session began circulating on social media.
Reflecting on her upbringing, the singer described how inconsistent power supply shaped everyday life for many Nigerian families.
“Growing up in Nigeria, we didn’t always have power. I’d have to wait till 6 pm for the power to come on so I could watch Hannah Montana. But even I, I was lucky. Some children in Africa don’t have access to power at all. No child should be left in the dark,” she said.
Ayra Starr went on to give a more personal example, linking electricity challenges to small-scale family trade and daily survival.
“Every Nigerian child has faced some kind of electricity issue. My grandma used to sell tomatoes and peppers, and we had to sell it quick because we didn’t have electricity to store them. Growing up, having electricity would have made a big difference,” she added.
She also admitted that participating in the summit exposed her to broader conversations around global energy solutions and sustainability.
“Before this, I didn’t really know much about global energy solutions, I’m not going to lie. But I’m learning so much, and it’s so inspiring,” she said, expressing hope that young Africans would be inspired to explore renewable energy innovations for their communities.
Her comments have since triggered mixed reactions online, with some praising her honesty and others debating how African experiences are framed on global stages.
“My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper; we had to sell it quick because we didn’t have electricity to store them… I had to find ways to do what I had to do. Growing up, having electricity would’ve made a big difference.”
– Ayra Starr speaks at Global Citizen NOW in NYC pic.twitter.com/Cb98Ag12lM
— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) May 14, 2026