Gospel takes lead as Gaise Baba’s ‘No Turning Back II’ tops Nigeria’s YouTube music chart
YouTube Africa has released its 2025 list of the most-viewed music videos, with gospel singer Gaise Baba’s song “No Turning Back II” emerging as the most-watched.
The remix, featuring Lawrence Oyor, was released in 2025 and outperformed several mainstream afrobeats releases.
“Big congrats to @gaisebaba
for the Most Viewed Music Video in Nigeria 2025!” the video-sharing platform wrote on Wednesday.
The achievement represents a rare moment for gospel music, a genre that rarely tops the end-of-year digital charts that are usually dominated by pop and afrobeats artistes.
Released in May 2025, “No Turning Back II” gained steady momentum across social media and church communities with over 40 million views.
Reacting to the milestone, Gaise Baba, in YouTube Africa’s comment section on Instagram, credited the song’s success to collaboration and faith, giving a shout-out to Lawrence Oyor and members of Davidic Generation Church.
He described the achievement as a result of “simple obedience” and said the song’s reception showed a shift in cultural tastes.
Nigerian singer Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, followed in second place with his single “Laho,” one of the year’s most viral street-pop records, while Davido’s “With You,” featuring Omah Lay, placed third.
Beyond music, YouTube Nigeria’s 2025 list also recognised creator-owned channels across drama, comedy, and lifestyle content.
Omoni Oboli TV led the rankings, with a YouTube channel of over 1.7 million subscribers and her top video at 31 million views.
The actress-filmmaker steadily drops feature-length films that appeal to home and diaspora audiences.
Other Nollywood channels, including Itelediconstudio, Uchenna Mbunabo TV, Saira Movies, Maurice Sam TV, RuthKadiri247, APATATV+, Uche Montana TV and Sonia Uche TV, also made the list.
Content creator and skit maker Chukwuebuka Amuzie, popularly known as Brain Jotter, was the only skit-focused channel to appear in the top ten, showing the continued popularity of short-form comedy content among Nigerian viewers.
YouTube’s role as a major distribution outlet for Nollywood filmmakers and online comedians allows creators to bypass traditional television networks and reach audiences directly.
It also points to how Nigerians increasingly turn to YouTube for long-form entertainment, movies, and comedy content alongside music videos.
Top 10 most-watched YouTube music videos in Nigeria (2025
- No Turning Back II — Gaise Baba ft Lawrence Oyor
- Laho — Shallipopi
- With you — Davido ft Omah Lay
- 99 — Olamide ft Seyi Vibez, Asake and Young Jonn
- Why Love — Asake
- Baby Is It a Crime — Rema
- My Darling (Visualizer) — Chella
- Kese (Dance) — Wizkid
- Laho II — Shallipopi ft Burna Boy
- With You (Visualizer) — Davido ft Omah Lay
Top 10 creator channels in Nigeria (2025)
- Omoni Oboli TV
- Itelediconstudio
- Uchenna Mbunabo TV
- Saira Movies
- Maurice Sam TV
- RuthKadiri247
- APATATV+
- Uche Montana TV
- Sonia Uche TV
- Brain Jotter
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Heading 2
Tinubu’s economic reforms yielding results despite doubts: Bagudu
Mr Bagudu described Mr Tinubu as a visionary leader whose decisions demonstrated courage and commitment to national development.
Sport
Flamingos lose 2-1 to Poland in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup opener
Poland’s Natalia Skrok made it two in the second half when Blanka Zajac, in the 65th minute, crossed into the Nigerian penalty area.
States
Gov Mbah scraps N750 daily ticket fee for Enugu tricycle operators, extends work hours
Mr Mbah also disclosed that tricycle operators would continue to use the state’s modern transport terminals free of charge.
States
FG unveils five-point strategy to tackle banditry, terrorism in Sokoto
Mr Ribadu called for sustained security deployments around vulnerable settlements, forest corridors and border communities.
Politics
2027: Wike urges Rivers traditional leaders to avoid ‘mistake’, back Tinubu for prosperity
Mr Wike said, “Supporting Tinubu is a support for prosperity.”
Heading 4
NAPTIP raises alarm over rise in parents’ facilitation of children’s sexual exploitation
The NAPTIP boss said parents and guardians were facilitating the sexual exploitation of their children to make money.
