Senator Natasha Hails Nigerians After Emerging Most Searched Person In 2025

Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has expressed gratitude to Nigerians following her emergence as the most searched person in Nigeria in Google’s Year in Search report for 2025.

Reacting on Facebook, the Senator wrote, “Nigerians, you did this, and here’s your trophy. Out of 237 million people, I emerged as the most searched (sixth) person with an ‘unprecedented public interest’ around a rising (sic) political profile.”

She added, “They shut me out of the Senate for 6 months. To date, I still struggle to speak on topical issues, but I thank God and the people for lifting me up.”

According to Google’s Year in Search report released on Thursday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the viral toy sensation, Labubu, were among the most searched.

The report provides insight into how Nigerians used the internet this year to follow major events, track cultural trends, engage with entertainment, and process moments of national significance.

Former President Buhari ranked second behind international footballer Diogo Jota in the category for deaths, as Nigerians revisited his political career, presidency, and legacy.

Other notable deaths, including Super Eagles legend Peter Rufai and Pope Francis, also drew attention from internet users.

International events, including the Israel–Iran war and the U.S. elections, also ranked prominently among news-related searches.

Also, the recently released iPhone 17 topped device-related searches, while budget and mid-range options such as the Tecno Pop 10, Redmi 14C, Tecno Spark 40, and Infinix Note 50 Pro were also sought after.

In the entertainment category, the gospel hit Oluwatosin (Jesus Is Enough) by Tkeyz featuring Steve Hills was the most searched song, followed by Fido’s Joy Is Coming and Davido and Omah Lay’s collaboration With You.

In Nollywood, director Kemi Adetiba was among the most searched personalities, driven by the popularity of her series *To Kill a Monkey*, which emerged as the most searched local show of the year.

International shows like Squid Game, Wednesday, and Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, also captured strong interest.

Nigerians also turned to Google to understand viral trends and internet culture.

The question “What is Labubu?” topped search queries, as the toy figure became a nationwide sensation.

Searches for the meanings of trending words such as ‘Achalugo’, ‘Kelebu’, ‘Sope Purr’, ‘Ozempic’, and ‘nepo baby’ highlighted the public’s interest in decoding fast-moving slang and social media references.

Food and lifestyle searches reflected an adventurous and globally influenced palate, with users seeking recipes for chin chin, ginger shots, pornstar martinis, sausage rolls, lasagne, Chinese rice, and asun rice.

Commenting on the findings, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Google West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said, “The 2025 Year in Search is a vibrant reflection of what Nigerians paid attention to. From major headlines and global conflicts to new slang and cooking trends, Nigerians used Search to explore the world around them.”

Google described the findings as a “vibrant, unfiltered mirror of our collective attention,” which illustrated how Nigerians engaged with news, culture, technology, and entertainment throughout 2025.