Google just released its annual Year in Search list for Nigeria in 2025, offering a revealing snapshot of what captured the nation’s attention over the past year. From tracking political figures and honouring national icons to decoding viral slang, Nigerians turned to Google Search to make sense of a dynamic year.
“The 2025 Year in Search is more than just data; it’s a vibrant, unfiltered mirror of our collective attention,” says Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications & Public Affairs Manager for West Africa.
The question “What is Labubu?” was the year’s top trending question, showing how quickly viral Internet slang drives national searches. Nigerians also searched heavily for the meaning of “Achalugo,” a term popularised by the YouTube film Love in Every Word, which was the top-searched movie of the year.
Nigerian entertainment dominated the search charts, showcasing a national preference for content that resonates locally. The gospel hit ‘Oluwatosin (Jesus Is Enough)’ by Tkeyz ft. Steve Hills was the most searched song. It was closely followed by ‘Joy is Coming’ by Fido and the collaboration, ‘With You’ by Davido ft. Omah Lay, which was also featured on global song charts.
The film industry saw Director Kemi Adetiba emerge as a top-searched personality, fueled by the massive popularity of her production, “To Kill a Monkey,” which was named the most searched local series.
National political discourse stood central in 2025, with Senator Natasha Akpoti emerging as the single most searched Nigerian personality of the year.
Beyond local politics, Nigerians tracked major global crises, with the Israel-Iran War and the US Elections driving significant international search traffic.
The deaths of former President Muhammadu Buhari and iconic former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai triggered massive waves of searches. International tributes also featured prominently, including the passing of Pope Francis and Charlie Kirk.
Nigerian culinary interests were a mix of traditional comfort and global experimentation. While the local staple Chinchin recipe was highly searched, the top spots also included global trends Pornstar Martini Recipe, Ginger Shot Recipe, and the Chinchin Recipe.
In 2025, Nigerians were actively engaged in local and global political issues, with a keen eagerness to stay fluent in the rapidly evolving language of digital culture.
