Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal has emerged as the most searched personality on Google in 2023, outshining even Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate. According to statistics released by Google, Lawal’s notoriety skyrocketed after a private video of her leaked on September 9, 2023.
The viral video captured an intimate moment between the actress and her lover, causing a social media frenzy. This incident propelled Lawal to the top of the trending charts, overshadowing Obi’s standing, who came in third in the February 2023 presidential election.
Peter Obi, despite securing the second position in the most searched personalities, witnessed a decline in popularity following his loss in the presidential election. The fervor among youths that initially supported him dwindled, contributing to his slip to the second position.
The third most searched personality on Google in 2023 was Oladips, the ‘Chache’ crooner. False reports of his demise on November 14 stirred significant online attention, only to be debunked later by his personal assistant.
Following closely in fourth place was Hilda Baci, who achieved a Guinness World Record for the longest individual cooking marathon, clocking in at 93 hours and 11 minutes in June 2023. However, this record was subsequently surpassed by Alan Fisher from Ireland.
Fifth on the list was Mykhailo Mudryk, capturing Nigerians’ curiosity with his move to Chelsea. The sixth most searched personality, actor John Okafor, widely known as Mr. Ibu, stirred online discussions due to his illness and the subsequent amputation of one of his legs.
Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa secured the seventh spot as he directed sit-at-home protests in the Southeast after the arrest of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. Ekpa remains on the wanted list of the Nigerian government and continues to be a focal point of online discussions.
The eighth position was claimed by Lagos socialite Sam Larry, whose involvement in the aftermath of Mohbad’s death led to his arrest alongside Naira Marley. Despite subsequent release, Sam Larry’s online presence remained significant.
Ninth on the list was Anita Brown, whose rumored romance with Davido and a growing pregnancy bump ignited social media speculation.
Closing the top ten was Esther Raphael, popularly known as “The Buba Girl,” a TikTok star, dancer, and social media influencer. Her vibrant content and captivating presence contributed to her status as the tenth most searched personality on Google by Nigerians in 2023.
