Nigerian actress, filmmaker, and screenwriter Omoni Oboli has been honoured with the plaque for Top Creator Channel on YouTube for 2025, marking a major milestone in her fast-growing digital career. The award was presented at the Google office in Ikoyi, Lagos, during an event titled “An Afternoon With YouTube” which also unveiled Nigeria’s Top Trending Lists and the newly introduced YouTube Recap feature.
Oboli, whose channel Omoni Oboli TV has become one of Nigeria’s most-watched creator platforms, expressed gratitude for the recognition. Speaking with The Guardian, she described leading the chart as “amazing,” saying she had surpassed channels that have existed on the platform long before hers.
“We released our first movie on the channel over a year ago; by the end of December, the channel will be two years old,” she said. “It has been a lot of hard work, dedication, and a lot of grace because God has carried us. 2025 has been phenomenal. Our movie went viral and God showed Himself through us.”
Oboli added that the channel, which releases a movie every week, plans to expand its output even further next year. “We’ll do more in 2026. We are targeting 80 movies,” she noted.
Ranking behind her were Itelediconstudio, Uchenna Mbunabo TV, Saira Movies, Maurice Sam TV, RuthKadiri247, ApataTV+, Uche Montana TV, Sonia Uche TV and Brainjotter, rounding out Nigeria’s Top 10 creators of the year.
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Gaise Baba Tops Music List as Gospel Dominates YouTube Nigeria in 2025
Afrogospel artist and cultural innovator Gaise Baba emerged as the surprise leader of Nigeria’s most-watched music videos on YouTube in 2025. His hit song “No Turning Back II,” created in collaboration with worship minister Lawrence Oyor, beat heavyweights including Davido, Wizkid, Shallipopi, Asake, and Rema to clinch the top spot.
Speaking on the achievement, he credited the success of the song to divine help, his community, and the younger generation who amplified the message.
“The children are instrumental to the success of the song,” he said. “The media has been kind since No Turning Back was released. The media understands our mission.”
Gaise Baba added that the accomplishment signals a shift in the entertainment ecosystem, showing that gospel music can dominate mainstream charts. “It means that gospel ministers can be number one in the entire industry. Just like the Word, music can prevail. We will change the culture. Heaven has written it; the world will know.”
The full list of top music videos for 2025 reflects a blend of gospel and Afrobeats energy, with entries from Shallipopi, Davido, Olamide, Seyi Vibez, Asake, Young Jonn, Rema, Chella and Wizkid all making the chart.
YouTube Highlights Nollywood’s Digital Influence and Introduces Recap Feature
YouTube revealed the full 2025 creator list in a statement issued by Addy Awofisayo, the platform’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa. She emphasized that Nigeria’s vibrant creative scene continued to shape digital culture across the continent and beyond.
“2025 is an exciting year for YouTube,” she said at the Lagos event. “This year, we have seen many traditional media players embrace YouTube because they can connect directly with the audience.”
Awofisayo noted that the top-performing channels shared one major trait: consistency. She encouraged creators to think beyond their local audience, as international engagement continues to significantly boost monetization.
She also highlighted YouTube’s new Recap feature, a personalized summary that shows users the videos, creators, and genres that defined their year. The feature aims to make the viewing experience more interactive and reflective of cultural moments.
Reactions also poured in online. On X (formerly Twitter), Google celebrated Oboli’s achievement, describing her as “an absolute powerhouse storyteller” and praising the growing community around her channel.
Beyond creators and music, YouTube’s 2025 data reveals broader trends in what Nigerians searched for, watched, and shared. Nollywood maintained its stronghold on digital storytelling, while gospel music surged, Afrobeats remained dominant, and keywords such as Achalugo, allegedly, and Labubu trended heavily across the country.
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Looking Ahead
With Nollywood creators expanding their reach, gospel musicians breaking traditional boundaries, and audiences embracing homegrown content at unprecedented levels, YouTube’s 2025 rankings paint a picture of a digital ecosystem that is vibrant, competitive, and culturally confident. As creators prepare for 2026, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s storytelling and music industries are not just participating in global culture, they are shaping it.
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