Bianca Ojukwu, Finesse, Kemi Afolabi are the top 3 items Nigerians searched on Google in March

David Afolayan
*The Finesse song by Phyno and Buju caught attention and became an anthem | *IWD2022 saw other moments apart from celebrating women | *The political drama leading up to the 2023 elections interested many Nigerians

Apart from celebrating women, March 2022 ended on a dramatic note, especially remembering the football match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana. As expected, March was a mix of the exciting and the absurd, and that mix informed what people searched for on Google.

Our interest in what was top on people’s minds in the past month led us to analyse the Google Search trend for the month and the revelations are interesting.

Search trends information is gleaned from data collated by Google based on what Nigerians searched within the period.

What did we realise? Women’s issues, politics, entertainment and sports were among the top searches and trending questions in the past month. Let us dive into the issues:

International women’s day (IWD)

International Women’s Day (IWD) was marked on Tuesday, March 8, themed #BreakTheBias, so as to clearly pass on the message of gender equality.

It featured corporate organisations, religious bodies, the government and members of the public using the day to discuss the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and the challenges they face.

IWD2022 was the 7th most searched word across the country in the past month.

IWD

Indeed, women are now in spaces only dreamt of decades ago, and the best part is that women own some of these spaces. To celebrate some of these women, we listed the 10 Most Inspiring Nigerian Women in Tech.

You can download a magazine we created for these inspiring women here.

But, there were stories that broke our hearts. The first one was the murder of Bamise Ayanwole that got into the news on March 7. Before then, the National Assembly had rejected gender-related bills that gave women more representation, and #OccupyNASS became a conversation.

TOP TRENDING SEARCHES BY NIGERIANS IN MARCH 2022
1. Winter Paralympics
2. Lupus
3. Finesse, finesse by buju, finesse lyrics, finesse meaning
4. Kemi Afolabi
5. Bianca Ojukwu
6. Valdimir Putin Russia Ukraine War
7. International Women’s Day 2022
8. Kumama Papa
9. Thomas Partey
10. Ebonyi State Governor
Search trends information is gleaned from data collated by Google based on what Nigerians have been searching for and asking Google.

Bianca Ojukwu’s slap

Bianca Ojukwu, politician, and widow of statesman and politician, Chukuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was one of the top searched names in March.

This is because of her physical altercation with the wife of former Anambra Governor, Ebelechukwu Obiano, at the inauguration of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo.  Ebele Obiano walked from her seat to meet Bianca Ojukwu and a hot argument took place following a slap.

Bianca Ojukwu

Videos showing the said altercation went viral, prompting Nigerians to go to Search to get more information on what transpired.

Kemi Afolabi’s health

Last month, popular Nollywood actress Kemi Afolabi disclosed that she has been diagnosed with lupus, an incurable inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues. In a recent interview with show host, Chude Jideonwo, the actress revealed that she has only five more years to live.

I have lupus. It’s not curable. You just have to take medications for the rest of your life.

Kemi Afolabi

She noted that she already paid ₦1.2 million on treatment yet it did not work as she continually cried in pain. She detailed that she wrote her will and booked a space with a funeral ground after her diagnosis.

This caught the interest of her fans and the general public and caused a spike in the search for the term, “Lupus” and the question, “What is lupus?”

Finesse song

Pheelz and Buju, were also among the top names searched by Nigerians in March. They are both Nigerian musicians who collaborated to release a song titled Finesse.

YouTube player

The song has gone on to become an anthem and got Nigerians searching for the lyrics of the song as well as the meaning of the word “finesse”.

The politics of 2023

Interesting questions Nigerians asked in March include “When is Mother’s day in 2022?” and “When is APC’s National convention?”

Nigerians were interested in the anticipated All Progressives Congress (APC) elective national convention that was held from March 26 to March 27 in preparation for the coming 2023 general elections. The drama was not going to pass through the ears of the Nigerians without commentary.

Below is the list of the top trending terms and questions that captured the interest of Nigerians in March:

TOP TRENDING QUESTIONS BY NIGERIANS IN MARCH 2022
1. What is lupus?
2. How to buy shares?
3. When is Jamb 2022 registration ending?
4. When is Mother’s day in 2022?
5. What is intersex?
6. How to validate NIN?
7. Who is Chelsea’s new owner?
8. Who is Bianca Ojukwu?
9. When is APC’s National convention?
10. Who is the Governor of Anambra State?
Search trends information is gleaned from data collated by Google based on what Nigerians have been searching for and asking Google.

In sum

March ought to be a women’s month – when we sit back and appreciate the womenfolk. But, the search pattern of Nigerians in the past month has shown that the interest of internet citizens in March transcends gender issues.

The search pattern indicates that people had other concerns, about what they truly care about, and that is very important.


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