In a Google Nigeria event, Google VP Global Marketing, Marvin Chow, gave us a window into the hearts and minds of Nigerians. This is what the nation is searching. In other words, these are the most searched items by Nigerians on Google.
- Wizkid soco
- World Cup fixtures
- Npower
- Prepare banga soup
- Who is richest musician in Nigeria
- How to dance shaku shaku
- Black panther
- BBNaija
- How to tie gele*
Someone posted this on Facebook where it was sent to me with this caption.
At the on going Google For Nigeria conference holding here in Lagos, this is what Marvin Chow, the vice president of Google revealed to a startled audience as the most searched subjects in Nigeria this year.
NOTHING INNOVATIVE OR MIND STIMULATING.
I’m embarrassed for us as a nation. I’m more embarrassed for my generation.
Nigeria needs to be fixed. If not, the nights may be VERY long! Yes, if these are issues that occupy the minds of our young people (the netizens), Nigeria is technically sick.
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It is true. We need to be fixed, but that assertion shouldn’t come because of the kind of things we search for on Google. Google is a search engine. If someone searches for “Soko” what if he or she wants to improvise on the beats or do some sounds? Do you search for innovations on Google? Someone looking up how to cook Banga soup. So? Do you want them to type “better ways to cook banga” before you know they are up to something?
These results might be accurate. But you came to those conclusions yourselves. I don’t think the Google VP gave that info to make it seem as if Nigeria is backward. It’s just stats. Tell them to give you theirs too, before you conclude. You might be in for surprises.
Fair enough. So, what is your own opinion? I have mine which is personal and certainly not to be accepted by all. What is your opinion?
This is a thing to be ashamed of. I have been doing some keyword research for my website and like you have noticed ndubuisi, a large no of our youths are keypad minded and most cant hold a decent conversation apart from talking football, music or fashion. That is the reason for the search results…do you know these searches are in the million monthly and our minds are only on these things that is why we search for them…Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. It is not something to think otherwise but to cry for…our leader, our schooling system and even ourselves have all failed.
This is a typical naija response; there is no need to be defensive. This data is instructive. We have abandoned intellectual research and the impact can be clearly seen in our National life and the graduates we produce. The question to ask is ‘how do we change this narrative?’
As i will like to agree with both comments as valid opinions of the perspective of the reader and the translation provided to determine the type of message that was passed and the intentions of what to be accepted from the message. My real concern is the challenge of message dissemination, where message acceptance conflicts occur. Now to the real problem, the total youth in Nigeria assumed to be 100M, yet less than 20M of this resides in urban cities like lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt etc with most technology penetration which may lead to technology and entrepreneur research request on google, yet the rest of the youth population are left to google what matters to us, yes including all and well directed popular google advertisement on Nigeria radio station to use your google icon on your android phone to search what matter to you including football statistics, best Nigeria clubs, movies and time, how to prepare best Nigeria meal which google themselves are paying for.
The important thing for me is to have policies that will automatically enroll and engage youth into research and development, entrepreneurship and etc to ensure innovations that lead to industrialization and commercialization of idea.
On the contrary, data companies like aitel and etisalat are the only one showing us what entrepreneurs are using the internet for, kindly check their adverts, sample is Mai Atafo using internet to research new design, and other entrepreneurs enjoying the advantage of internet positively.
As the popular saying goes… IF YOU KNOW ,YOU KNOW.
Thank you PROF for always sharing sincere information
I support this line also “The important thing for me is to have policies that will automatically enroll and engage youth into research and development, entrepreneurship and etc to ensure innovations that lead to industrialization and commercialization of idea.” That is what Nigeria needs.
Charles
Aren’t we lucky that they did not say we came tops in pornography and the likes
Terrible. And you wonder why it’s such a backward county?
Nice article, but I don’t believe that’s what Nigerian Searchmost….
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There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this information from Google. It only shows a trend that indicated what people were most interested in knowing more about during that period. We may cry about the decadence in our country but there’s gold in this very “innovative and mind-stimulating” information. If we (you and us) care so much about influencing what people search for in Nigeria, we have to push out and make popular, contents with the kind of narratives that would shape thoughts as we desire.
Most comments on this indicate that we may have more book-people than entrepreneurs / effective change makers that will wonder why a non-graduate is wealthier and more influential than they are…and call them “Money Miss Road”. The truth is the world has moved.
To ease your embarrassment on Nigerian researchers, please google popular searches in any “assumed advanced country” you may know, bet you will be “apple” – think differently i mean.
? We can however influence the searches!