He attended Government Comprehensive Secondary School Borikiri before gaining admission to the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
By Sam Ovie
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Published on September 14, 2026
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2 min read
Stanley Omah Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, was born on May 19, 1997, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer who grew up in Marine Base, Port Harcourt, and has gone on to become one of Africa’s recognised music stars.
He spent his childhood and teenage years living in Marine Base, a notoriously rough waterfront in Port Harcourt. He attended Government Comprehensive Secondary School Borikiri before gaining admission to the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). He later dropped out of the university to pursue music fully.
Music runs in his family. His father was a drummer, while his grandfather played instruments for legendary highlife musician Celestine Ukwu. Omah Lay started his music journey as a teenager as a member of a rap group called Lil King before eventually going solo.
In 2019, he released “Do Not Disturb,” marking the beginning of his solo career. He gained widespread popularity in 2020 after songs such as “Bad Influence” and “You” became major hits. His debut EP, Get Layd, released that same year, further established him as one of Nigeria’s rising music stars.
He went on to release his debut album, Boy Alone, in 2022, and continued to build an international audience through his music and collaborations.
In 2026, Omah Lay received his first Grammy nomination for “With You,” his collaboration with Davido, in the Best African Music Performance category.
Over the years, Omah Lay has toured and performed on major stages and in arenas across Africa, Europe, North America and Australia, further establishing his presence on the global music scene.
From Marine Base in Port Harcourt to the global stage, his journey remains one of the remarkable success stories of a Rivers-born artiste taking Nigerian music to the world.
