The 17-year-old artist, whose Instagram freestyle caught the attention of talent spotter Gidado Tino, draws inspiration from his personal struggles, faith and determination to make his family proud.

Nigerian emerging artist Richie Ogaga, professionally known as Boiy Richey, has released his debut single, “ONLY ME,” marking a new chapter in his musical career after years of pursuing his passion despite financial challenges.

Released on October 9, 2026, the motivational song reflects the 17-year-old’s experiences growing up in a financially challenged household, his determination to succeed and his desire to provide a better life for his family.

Born on February 7, 2009, in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, Boiy Richey grew up in Kabayi, where he spent more than 13 years before his family relocated to Otukpo, Benue State, in search of a fresh start amid financial difficulties.

As the first son of his parents, he said his upbringing taught him to appreciate the support and sacrifices his family made despite their limited resources.

Before gaining attention for his music, the teenager sold groundnuts for his mother and pushed wheelbarrows for traders at the market to earn money for himself.

“I was just a young boy who would go to the market to sell groundnuts for my mum,” he recalled. “Whenever my mum was around to sell, I would take our wheelbarrow and work for other people in the market so I could make a little money for myself.”

His interest in music began at about six years old when he started singing songs by other artists. By the age of 13, he had begun writing his own songs and taking his ambition to become a recording artist more seriously.

However, financial constraints made it difficult for him to access studio sessions and promote his music. He resorted to creating freestyles and sharing them online, sometimes borrowing other people’s phones to record and publish his performances.

“There were times I had to raise money by myself just to record,” he said. “I would even leave home and borrow other people’s phones so I could make freestyles and post them.”

His decision to pursue music also came with challenges at home. According to the teenager, his parents initially expressed concerns about whether music could provide a sustainable career and sometimes encouraged him to stop posting freestyles and learn a trade.

Despite the concerns, he continued pursuing his ambition, drawing encouragement from friends who supported his music and the positive reactions he received online.

“Self-belief kept me going,” he said. “The positive comments and encouragement from my day ones also meant a lot to me. Whenever I saw people enjoying what I was creating, it reminded me that I had a reason to keep going.”

At 15, Boiy Richey travelled from Otukpo to Abuja without informing his parents of his destination, hoping to secure an opportunity with a record label. The attempt did not produce the outcome he expected, and he eventually returned home disappointed.

He continued making music and posting freestyles online, while drawing inspiration from his experiences, including the sacrifices he made to raise money for recording sessions and the late nights he spent writing songs.

His persistence eventually created an opportunity through Instagram, where one of his freestyles went viral and attracted the attention of Gidado Tino, a talent spotter who contacted him after discovering his content.

According to Boiy Richey, their initial interaction developed into a phone conversation during which Tino expressed interest in his talent and offered to help him pursue his musical ambitions.

The connection opened the door to new creative opportunities and a period of development for the young artist, who had previously struggled to afford studio sessions.

He described the experience of having the opportunity to express himself creatively with greater freedom as a turning point in his journey.

“The songs I created made it clear to me: ‘Nah, this is no longer a joke,’” he said.

Boiy Richey credited Tino with recognising his potential and giving him an opportunity to develop his talent.

“He saw me. He believed in me. And he decided to give me a chance,” he said. “I’ll never take that for granted.”

His debut single, “ONLY ME,” draws on these experiences, combining themes of perseverance, faith in God, self-belief and the determination to overcome difficult circumstances.

The artist said he selected the song as his official introduction because it reflects his personal story and allows listeners to understand the experiences behind his music.

“I felt ‘ONLY ME’ was the perfect song because it tells my story,” he explained. “It talks about where I’ve come from, the things I’ve faced and how I still thank God for where I am today.”

Rather than focusing on one particular event, he said the record brings together different experiences of hardship and uncertainty that have shaped his outlook on life.

One of its central messages appears in the second verse: “Whenever it is, whatever it is, I no see the reason wey go make me quit.”

The line reflects his determination to keep pursuing his goals despite setbacks. He hopes the song will encourage listeners facing their own challenges to remain committed to their ambitions.

Making his family proud, he said, remains one of his strongest motivations.

“Making my family proud means everything to me,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest motivations behind everything I’m doing.”

The song was recorded in a home studio, with members of his production team contributing backup vocals and the “Alhamdulillah” echo featured in the chorus.

Boiy Richey described the recording process as an exciting experience and said he was pleased with the finished record.

Following its release, the teenager said the early feedback from supporters had been encouraging. He also noted that the experience had reinforced his understanding that personal and professional development requires continuous effort.

“Personally, it has taught me that growth never stops,” he said. “The person I was yesterday can’t be the same person I am today.”

Looking ahead, he hopes to establish himself as a recognised name in the music industry, produce songs that connect with listeners emotionally and continue exploring different sounds and creative directions.

He describes his musical identity as versatile and unique, with an interest in experimenting across genres rather than limiting himself to a particular style.

Beyond his personal ambitions, the teenager hopes his experiences will encourage other young people dealing with financial difficulties and other challenges.

“I want them to hear my story and understand that difficult beginnings don’t mean you can’t have a great future,” he said.

For him, success means achieving financial stability, living comfortably and providing his family with opportunities that were not readily available to them while he was growing up.

Reflecting on the journey that brought him to the release of his first official single, he expressed gratitude to his younger self for continuing to pursue music despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.

“Thank you, bro, for not giving up on yourself,” he said.

He added that his faith in God had remained central to his journey and described “ONLY ME” as the beginning of what he hopes will be a lasting career in music.

“God helped me through the journey, and ‘ONLY ME’ is just the beginning,” he said.

For the teenager who once sold groundnuts for his mother, pushed wheelbarrows to raise money for recording sessions and borrowed phones to share his freestyles, the release represents a significant milestone in his pursuit of a career in music.

About the Single

“ONLY ME” is the debut single by Nigerian artist Boiy Richey, whose real name is Richie Ogaga. Released on October 9, 2026, the motivational record draws on his personal experiences with hardship, perseverance, faith and his determination to make his family proud.

Songwriter: Richie Ogaga

Producer: MAYKAH

Mixing Engineer: X-Phi.L

Mastering Engineer: Tino