2022 is gradually coming to an end and the holiday season is around the corner. While we’re evaluating the year and thinking of resolutions for the next one, there is no better time to review what piqued the curiosity of Nigerians over the course of the year.
“Google it” is one of the default responses Nigerians give to questions they cannot answer and several things were checked for on the famous search engine. Important queries such as ‘What is PVC?’ as well as trivial questions like ‘what is the meaning of zazu zeh’? were searched for by Nigerians. But then, we were also inquisitive about the Russia-Ukraine war.
Technext reviewed the most searched words by Nigerians in 2022 and tried to explain why Nigerians were so curious about them. According to Google, the top 10 most searched words by Nigerians on Google in 2022 are:
- AFCON
- ASUU
- iPhone 14
- Oxlade
- NATO
- Buga
- Peter Obi
- Ukraine
- World Cup
- Asake
Read also: 2022 FIFA World Cup, Peter Obi amongst Nigerians’ top Google searches for November
AFCON
The 2021 African Cup of Nations was the first major sporting tournament of 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the tournament for a year and it still lived up to expectations. The Super Eagles of Nigeria carried the hopes of the nation on their wings to Cameroon and defeated tournament favourites Egypt in their opening fixture.
It is not surprising that AFCON was one of the top trends on Google in 2022 as football is a passionate interest in Nigeria. Also, the participation and performances of the Super Eagles at the tournament were enough to keep the residents interested. Maduka Okoye, Ahmed Musa and Alex Iwobi were also instrumental in keeping Nigerians on Google.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal, led by Liverpool’s Sadio Mane emerged as champions by defeating Egypt on penalties in the final. The competitions birthed a new set of African football legends, served entertaining clashes, and put the best of Africa’s culture and talent on display.
The next edition of the African Cup of Nations is set to hold in Ivory Coast and we cannot wait to have more of what Cameroon served us this year.
Peter Obi
With the general elections coming up in Nigeria next year, it is not surprising that a lot of Nigerians sought related answers on Google and Peter Obi was on top of that list.
Alongside Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi has dominated the news headlines and the trend maps of social media platforms as presidential aspirants
For most Nigerians, the prevailing economic conditions in the country have resulted in them being overly interested in the leadership affairs of the country, and those that have decided to run for its leadership in the next years.
Peter Obi is a foremost Nigerian businessman and politician who served as the Governor of Anambra State for two terms from 2006 to 2014. He has become a revolutionary movement in the country with his supporters popularly called the ‘Obidients.’
Nigerians and supporters of the politician and presidential aspirant continually trooped to Google to search for the activities and profile of one of the most popular men in Nigeria right now.
Buga
If there was a song of the year award, it would be hard for any other track to beat Kizz Daniel’s Biga. Apart from being among the top ten most searched words on the platform, the 2022 hit song featuring Tekno is also the most googled song in Nigeria this year.
Since its release, ‘Buga’ has broken several records. The dance challenges on Tiktok and Instagram helped people create their own content and enjoy the little more than three-minute song better.
When “Buga” was released in May 2022, it quickly rose to become the most popular music in Nigeria, the most Shazamed song ever, and the top song in more than 10 different nations’ Apple Music charts.
George Weah, the President of Liberia, and Rotimi Amaechi, a former minister of transportation, are two notable figures who have danced to the song on social media. The song transcended the shores of Nigeria and became the favourites of members of all age groups.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the vice president of Nigeria, recently a part of the song to explain his arguments during a speech event. As he enthralled the audience with Kizz Daniel’s Buga, Osinbajo hoisted his shoulders high.
Asake
If Buga wins the song of the year, Asake has been THE revelation of 2022. The YBNL star dominated the music scene with “back-to-back hits,” several features, and two Extended Plays. This helped him remain a constant at the forefront of the minds of music lovers in the country and even the rest of the world.
Since the start of 2022, Asake’s fanbase has grown rapidly across all media. The 27-year-old singer and composer only began putting out music in 2018, therefore his rise in Nigeria’s music industry is remarkable.
Apart from being one of the most-talked-about artists of 2022 with his sophisticated afro-fuji style enjoyed by millions of Nigerians and music lovers across the world, his music video, Omo Ope (Official Video) by Asake featuring Olamide which was uploaded on YouTube some months ago, has been viewed more than 23 million views, with over 143,000 likes and 3,800 comments.
The music video is among the top ten most streamed YouTube videos in 2022 also. The musician was recently among the top names of African creatives selected for the 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voice creators and artists cohort.
2022 FIFA World Cup
For many people, 2022 will be remembered as the year of the Winter World Cup. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has been one of the most exciting, technologically innovative and most talked about World Cups in the history of the tournament.
Apart from being arguably the most anticipated sporting event in the world, this year’s edition generated even more interest because of the major controversies that surrounded the host country.
These issues include human rights violations, depriving women of their rights, and Qatar’s position on homosexuality. Many people even cite Qatar’s intense climate, a lack of strong football culture, allegations of bribery for hosting rights and wider FIFA corruption.
Also, the quality of the football matches and the participating stars have drawn Nigerians’ attention to the tournament. One of the interesting things about the World Cup for Nigerians might also not be far from the anticipated performance of Nigeria’s hip-hop singer Davido.
Read also: 6 of the coolest things Google announced at ‘Search On 2022’
The iPhone 14 released by Apple, the Russia-Ukraine war, Oxlade and the ASUU strike that kept the students of Nigerian universities out of school for months also made the top ten list. These events dominated the headlines at different points in the year and Nigerians were eager to remain updated about them.
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