It’s no secret that right now, Nigeria isn’t an easy place to live in, much less to create in. With the obvious exception of the nepo babies, we’re all fighting for every breath we take. Citizens are grinding harder than ever: most students have jobs, employees have side hustles, and everyone is moving with the knowledge that if they take their foot off the gas even slightly, it could all come crashing down.
Creatives aren’t spared; they’re faced with a multitude of barriers like internet subscription prices inflating on the daily, and when they do have data, there’s poor network connection. Add in the ridiculous electricity supply, with the national grid constantly fainting like a sick Victorian child. Imagine being a social media manager who hasn’t had light at home for 3 weeks! In addition, they have to face special low-quality problems, like being judged for not exactly fitting into the norms of a conservative society.
Despite all this, young Nigerians keep showing up, keep creating, and keep flourishing. Ours is a story of resilience. So, in celebration of International Youth Day 2025, we reached out to 12 young creatives to find out how they keep their spark. Some of the answers were introspective, some showed our hustling spirit, and others were just downright hilarious. This is what they shared.
- Joy, 24:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Seeing other people create and thrive in the same country. If they can do it, then I can too.
What sparks your creativity?
Music and content I see online that inspires me.
- Tochi, 24 (for the next few days):
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Suffering.
What sparks your creativity?
Sapa.
- Babajide, 29:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Aspirations and accolades.
What sparks your creativity?
Healthy competition and the Nigerian Hunger.
- Nancy, 20s:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Fear of sapa.
What sparks your creativity?
Spark? In this country??
- Tayme, 22:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Money o!
What sparks your creativity?
Money too 🥹
- Valerie, 24:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
The fear of poverty and really just the fun of it.
What sparks your creativity?
I think about the joy I get when I pull off a successful event, and that motivates me. I get the best ideas when I wake up, so I guess I can say a good night’s rest sparks my creativity.
- Valerie, 24:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
The fear of poverty and really just the fun of it.
What sparks your creativity?
I think about the joy I get when I pull off a successful event, and that motivates me. I get the best ideas when I wake up, so I guess I can say a good night’s rest sparks my creativity.
- Osarode, 27:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Omoooooo, I no get choice😭.
What sparks your creativity?
The very challenging conditions I experience. They make me resolve to keep trying.
- Toyosi, 24:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Creating is what I live for, and there’s a world beyond Nigeria.
What sparks your creativity?
Simple things. The best ideas come when I’m not trying to find them.
- Chuka, 27:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
Peace of mind.
What sparks your creativity?
Other creatives.
- Wealth, 22:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
My drive to fully explore my creative potential while using my work as a tool for change. Every project I work on is both an expression of my ideas and a chance to challenge norms, spark conversations, and inspire progress.
What sparks your creativity?
The beauty of storytelling: spotting a moment and knowing it can become a beautiful story that makes someone, somewhere, feel heard and seen.
- Raphael, 24:
What motivates you to keep creating in today’s Nigeria?
My own journey keeps me inspired to create. Leaving the place where I grew up to upgrade my skills as a graphic designer was no small step: it took me four days in transit, travelling all the way from Kaduna to Lagos. That experience alone fuels my passion every day.
What sparks your creativity?
My mind is always active. I’m a wild thinker, constantly imagining and having conversations in my head. But in today’s Nigeria, it’s the vibrant culture, the resilience of the people, and the everyday stories I see around me that fuel those thoughts.
