The first half of 2022 has been eventful for Nigerians as politics, high profile deaths, sports personalities, blockbuster movies and TV series, Nollywood actors, musicians and songs that became very catchy trended on Google.
The top three trending people in Nigeria in the first half of the year are Peter Obi, Putin and Bianca Ojukwu.
Peter Obi, former Anambra Governor, is the Labour Party candidate for 2023 presidential poll.
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President also grabbed the attention of Nigerians in the first six months of this year as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine became topical across the globe.
Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of late Biafran warlord, Chukuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, also led search interest by Nigerians when she slapped Ebelechukwu, the wife of immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano.
A second famous slap comes in at number five on the list of top trending people, after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in March.
AFCON 2022 topped the list of most searched moments between January and June. Senegal beat Egypt in the final match of the African Cup of Nation (AFCON) football competition to emerge as the winner.
The ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that has seen the majority of Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions stay out of classes for five months is also a top moment that captured the interest of Nigerians online.
Top of the list of notable deaths is popular gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu. She was allegedly killed by her husband in a case of domestic violence. The death of another gospel singer, Chinedu Nwadike, was the second most searched death for Nigerians.
The song, Buga, by Kizz Daniel and Tekno is the number one trending song in the period under review. Blood sisters, a Nigerian series on Netflx starring Nancy Isime and Ini Dima-Okojie topped the list of top trending movies and TV Series by Nigerians from January to June 2022. Olu Jacobs, the veteran Nollywood actor who recently celebrated his eightieth birthday leads the list of top trending actors in Nigeria while Raheem Sterling’s journey from Manchester City to Chelsea FC led him to be the number one trending sports personality in Nigeria
Here is a full lists of top trending searches for the first half of 2022:
Top trending people by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Peter Obi
Vladimir Putin
Bianca Ojukwu
Simon Leviev
Will Smith
Abba Kyari
Johnny Depp
Black Chully
Funmilayo Adebayo aka Mummy GO
Kelly Tiktok
Top trending moments by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Afcon 2022
ASUU strike
Winter paralympics
Chrisland school girl
APC Presidential primaries
Russia Ukraine conflict
Kuje Prison attack
PDP Presidential primaries 2022
Owo Church Attack
Blasphemy Sokoto
Top trending deaths by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Osinachi Nwachukwu
Chinedu Nwadike
Dejo tunfulu
Alaafin of Oyo
Shinzo Abe
Alao Akala
Osmond Gbadebo
Abiodun Oropo
Mino Raiola
Ernest Shonekan
Top trending sports people by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Raheem Sterling
Raphinha
Lisandro Martinez
Eriksen
Gabriel Jesus
Koulibaly
Erik ten hag
Tyrell malacia
Darwin Nunez
Frenkie de Jong
Top trending musicians by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Oxlade
Black Sherif
Portable
Lil tjay
Asake
Ruger
Angelique Kidjo
DJ YK
Asap Rocky
Toni Braxton
Top trending songs by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
Mavins, Crayon, Ayra Starr, LADIPOE, Magixx & Boy Spyce – Overdose
Ruger – Girlfriend
Rema – Calm Down
Pheelz – Finesse ft Buju
Ruger – Dior
Portable ft. Olamide & Poco Lee – Zazu Zeh
Kizz Daniel – Pour Me Water
Skiibii – Baddest boy
Asake – Peace Be Unto You
Top trending movies/ TV Series by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Blood Sisters
Thor love and thunder
Stranger things
Tinder swindler
Morbius
Eternals
Spiderman no way home
Moon knight
Sex life
The boys
Top trending actors by Nigerians from January to June 2022
Olu Jacobs
Kemi Afolabi
Yul Edochie
Judy Austin
Joke Silvia
Ini Dima-Okojie
Search trends information is gleaned from data collated by Google based on what Nigerians have been searching for and asking Google. Google processes more than 40, 000 search queries every second. This translates to more than a billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year worldwide. Live Google search trends data is available at https://trends.google.com/trends/trendingsearches/daily?geo=NG