Google has released its 2025 Year in Search report, and former President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and viral toy sensation Labubu dominated Nigeria’s search trends.

According to the report, Nigerians turned to Google throughout the year to track major political events, follow cultural shifts, and understand trending topics shaping conversations nationwide.

The death of former President Buhari generated one of the biggest spikes in search activity, as millions revisited his life, presidency, and legacy. Other high-profile deaths — including Super Eagles legend Peter Rufai, Pope Francis, and football star Diogo Jota — also drew widespread attention.

In politics, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as the most searched Nigerian personality, reflecting surging public interest in her rising influence and political engagements throughout the year.

Global news also held Nigerians’ attention, with the Israel–Iran conflict and the U.S. elections ranking among the most-followed international events.

Entertainment trends were equally vibrant. Gospel hit “Oluwatosin (Jesus Is Enough)” by Tkeyz featuring Steve Hills topped the list of most-searched songs, while Kemi Adetiba’s series To Kill a Monkey became the most-searched Nollywood title. International shows such as Squid Game, Wednesday, and Bon Appétit, Your Majesty also trended heavily.

On the pop-culture scene, Nigerians were captivated by the viral toy Labubu, leading to the question “What is Labubu?” becoming the year’s most searched query. Searches for terms like Achalugo, Kelebu, Sope Purr, Ozempic, and nepo baby revealed a strong desire to decode fast-evolving slang and online culture.

Food and lifestyle searches remained diverse, with Nigerians showing strong interest in recipes ranging from chinchin and sausage rolls to Chinese rice, lasagne, and asun rice.

Commenting on the findings, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google West Africa’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, said the 2025 search trends reflect “a vibrant snapshot of what Nigerians paid attention to,” capturing everything from major headlines to daily curiosities.

Google described the report as an “unfiltered mirror of national attention,” showcasing how Nigerians used Search to explore news, culture, technology, and entertainment throughout the year.