Google on Tuesday unveiled its 2024 Year in Search report for Nigeria, revealing that the U.S. elections, the new national anthem, and the national grid were the top three news-related searches by Nigerians this year.
The report highlights the most searched topics, notable individuals, music, movies, and general interests that captured the attention of Nigerians in 2024. It shows continued fascination with the political and economic landscape, as reflected in searches related to the U.S. elections, the new national anthem, and the ongoing issues with Nigeria’s national grid.
“In Nigeria, this year’s results show a continued interest in the political and economic landscape, with searches about the U.S. elections, the new national anthem, and the national grid topping the news category,” Google stated.
Nigerians were also captivated by personalities like Bobrisky, who led the trending people’s list. In music, the rise of artists such as Shallipopi and Khaid marked a significant trend, as both artists featured prominently in the overall personalities list. The top trending song of the year was “I Don’t Care” by Boy Spyce, followed closely by “Ozeba” and “Commas” by Ayra Starr.
The search for song lyrics was another notable trend, with “Ogechi lyrics”, “Ozeba lyrics”, and “Omemma by Chandler Moore lyrics” topping the charts in the lyrics category.
Commenting on the report, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Google West Africa, noted: “The 2024 Year in Search offers a unique lens into the questions, interests, and conversations that shaped the lives of Nigerians this year. From cultural milestones to pressing concerns, these insights reflect how Search continues to be a valuable tool for users to navigate and better understand their world.”
The report also revealed Nigerians’ continued passion for entertainment, with movies such as “A Tribe Called Judah”, “Treasure In The Sky”, and “Damsel” topping the charts. On the TV front, “Supacell”, “My Demon”, and “Queen of Tears” were the most popular series among Nigerian viewers. In the culinary sphere, Nigerians showed interest in recipes, with the “Pornstar Martini recipe” being the most searched.
The report also highlighted a range of personal and global concerns, with searches about the exchange rate (“How much is dollar to naira today?”), hair care (“How to get perfectly defined curls for African hair?”), and political queries (“Who won the US presidential election?”) leading the way.
Additionally, Nigerians sought the meaning of terms like “demure”, “steeze”, and “pet peeves” through Search.
Google’s Year in Search is an annual analysis revealing the top trending topics, offering a snapshot of global and regional interests. In 2024, significant events such as the U.S. elections, which saw Donald Trump run for president again, and Nigeria’s decision to revert to its old national anthem after a bill was signed by President Bola Tinubu, were of major interest.
The national grid also became a focal point for Nigerians, who experienced frequent power outages, with reports noting over ten grid collapses in 2024 alone.
