Nigeria 2014 in Google Search: Heroes, Moments and Tragedies

Every day, we search. We want to find out more about our heroes, explore far-away destinations, or settle a dinner table dispute between friends. And sometimes we just search to find out what the latest trends are.

Google’s annual 14th Annual Year in Search is a look at 2014 through the collective eyes of the world on the web, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends based on searches conducted in Nigeria.

As usual, we reflect on the people, places, moments and topics that sent Nigerians searching for answers during the course of the year. Like previous years ,this year’s list highlights some interesting, surprising and correlated trends. For example, in the wake of the kidnap of the kidnap of the 276 female students in the town of Chibok, “Bring back our Girls” became a top search query globally, and in Nigeria, the question “what is mutiny” spiked following the announcement of the sentencing of the 12 Nigerian soldiers in September.

Expectedly, the dreaded Ebola disease which is reported to have resulted in the death of over 7,000 people was the highest trending search term in Nigeria, followed by the 2014 Fifa World Cup and the 7-month long ASUP strike. Other terms on the list are the iPhone 6, renowned preacher Myles Munroe and former Director General of NAFDAC Dora Akunyili.

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Entertainment and Showbiz remains a big interest thanks in no small part to vibrant Music & Nollywood industries. Topping the list of most searched Nigerian musician is the self-styled ‘Omo Baba Olowo’, Davido, who also had the most watched music video on YouTube. Coming 2nd and 3rd on that list are Igbo rap sensation Phyno and the 1st lady of Mavin Tiwa Savage.

In the realm of Nollywood celebs, Mercy Johnson-Okojie retained her position as most searched Nollywood personality, while the late award winning filmmaker Amaka Igwe turned out to be the top trending Nollywood personality. Outside of Nollywood, Nigerians were also searching for foreign movies. Topping that list is the fantasy action movie i Frankenstein starring Aaron Eckhart.

In the sports category, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona take up the top half of the top 10 most searched football clubs, while Stephen Keshi, Ikechukwu Uche and Ejike Uzoenyi topped the list of most searched Nigerian sports personalities of 2014. In a World Cup year,Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the Black Stars of Ghana and host Brazil’s Samba Boys are the most searched of the teams that participated.

Other Nigeria-specific lists include Top 10 most searched cars, Top 10 most searched Mobile Gadgets and Phones, most searched Clothing Brands, most searched Cars, most searched Recipes and most searched “Who is…” and “What is…” questions.

Globally, the #1 trending search is that of late Comedian and Hollywood Icon, Robin Williams, followed by the FIFA World Cup and Ebola.

The “Year-In-Search” lists are Google’s annual look at the billions of searches performed throughout the year. Year-In-Search uses data from multiple sources while filtering out spam and repeat queries, to build more than 1,000 fascinating top-ten lists across pop culture, sports, music, politics, news, and more. Take a moment and walk down memory lane with the Year in Search and check out even more goodies at www.google.com/2014.

HOT QUERIES THAT MADE THE LIST FOR 2014:

Top Trending Searches

1. Ebola

2. World Cup 2014

3. ASUP Strike

4. Myles Munroe

5. Kefee

6. Iphone 6

7. World Cup fixtures

8. Rariya

9. WAEC result 2014

10. Dora Akunyili

Top Trending Events

1. CHAN 2014

2. Michael Schumacher

3. Missing Plane MH370

4. Crimea

5. ASUP Strike

6. Abuja Bomb Blast

7. David Moyes

8. Myles Munroe

9. Chibok Girls

10. World Cup 2014

Top Trending Musicians

1. Davido

2. Phyno

3. Tiwa Savage

4. Don Jazzy

5. Timaya

6. Ice Prince

7. Olamide

8. Sean Tizzle

9. Lil Kesh

10. Burna Boy

Top Trending Nollywood Personalities

1. Amaka Igwe

2. Emem Isong

3. Charles Novia

4. Uti Nwanchukwu

5. Omoni Oboli

6. Joseph Banjamin

7. Ebuka

8. Mr. Ibu

9. Empress Njamah

10. Bimbo Akinsanya

Top Searched Cloth Brands

1. Diesel

2. Gucci

3. Versace

4. Adidas

5. Gap

6. Chanel

7. Guess

8. Timberland

9. Ralph Lauren

10. Louis Vuitton

Top Trending Nigerian Sports Personalities

1. Stephen Keshi

2. Ikechukwu Uche

3. Ejike Uzoenyi

4. Musa Yahaya

5. Umar Zango

6. Vincent Enyeama

7. Blessing Okagbare

8. Daniel Amokachi

9. Rabiu Ali

10. Sone Aluko