#BBNaija2017
The year began on a rather interesting and entertaining note, with the commencement of Big Brother Naija 2017. From children to teenagers, adults and even grandparents, when the Big Brother Nigeria hit the screen on January 22, it quickly became the most talked about reality TV show at that time.
On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the drama and suspense-filled show trended throughout the period it was aired and several days and weeks after the winner, Efe Ejemba, was announced on Sunday, April 9, 2017.
#HalleluyahChallenge
Taking worship from the church to the social media for the 30 days in June, gospel singer and trumpeter, Nathaniel Bassey, started a one hour per day halleluyah challenge, asking Christians to congregate via streaming platforms like Facebook Live and Instagram Live and worshipping along as he (Bassey) and his band prayed, sang and shared testimonies.
The singer had initiated the idea with a simple post on his Instagram page on May 31, saying he wanted to start a 30-day midnight praise challenge throughout the month of June.
An estimated three million people joined the worship session across the globe via the hashtag: #HalleluyahChallenge, according to social media analytics firm, Evolve Press.
#EVANS
When Nigerians woke up on June 10 and heard of the arrest of a notorious Anambra State kidnapper, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, it soon became a topic of discussion.
The kidnapper was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team in a luxurious mansion in Magodo, Lagos.
From newspapers’ cover pages to the various social media platforms, it was revealed how the kidnap kingpin had made billions of naira through his activities.
He was said to have collected billions of naira and millions of dollars as ransoms from his victims, including expatriates, business moguls and public office holders.
Evans was charged with murder and pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy and kidnapping on August 30, but later made a U-turn, denying the allegations upon re-arraignment in October.
In November, he filed an application seeking to be released on bail and for his case to be given an accelerated hearing. In the course of the year, Evans became a household name on and off the social media.
#BAAD2017
The news went viral in February when Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, proposed to an actress, Adesua Etomi. The announcement came to public knowledge early May when Banky W himself took to Instagram to announce the engagement. Later in the month, the lovebirds held their introduction. The Internet went busy with the news. It was then a star-studded lineup when they had their traditional wedding in Lagos on November 19 and the white wedding in Cape Town, South Africa, a week after. The wedding had come a few days after Banky W successfully had a third skin cancer control surgery.
Several celebrities, politicians and businessmen too numerous to start counting had graced the occasion, which was tagged as the real ‘Wedding Party.’ The duo had featured as lovebirds in the eponymous romantic comedy-drama film, which was produced by Kemi Adetiba in 2016.
Twitter and Instagram felt the heat during the duo’s wedding, which saw the creation of the hashtag, #BAAD2017. On Twitter alone, #BAAD2017 had more than 11.5 million impressions, according to hashagtracking.com.
#Monkeypox
On September 22, 2017, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control received a report of a suspected Monkeypox virus disease from the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State.
A few weeks later, the disease had affected 74 people and spread to 11 states, including Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ekiti, Lagos, Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus which belongs to the same family of viruses that cause smallpox. African rodent species are believed to be the natural reservoirs and play a role in transmission.
Naturally, the disease outbreak trended on the social media for weeks, as Nigerians started sharing tips on how to prevent the disease, just as they did during the outbreak of Ebola in 2014.
According to Google, Monkeypox was among the top 10 most searched keywords in the country in 2017.
#EndSARS
Nigerians might not be able to confront the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police physically, but they did via the social media in December.
After many years of being subjected to intimidation, dehumanisation, abuse and oppression, the citizens launched a campaign to end the menace using the hashtag, #EndSARS.
The campaign had been launched and gone viral after the emergence of a video of SARS operatives shooting a young man in the Yaba area of Lagos.
With the hashtag, several Nigerians had shared the various inhuman treatments they suffered at the hands of the SARS men and asked the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police Force to disband the unit.
The campaign, which has attracted global attention, has also drawn responses from the National Assembly, the Presidency and the United Nations. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has also issued a statement, promising to reform the unit.
#ResumeOrResign
When President Muhammadu Buhari returned from a medical vacation in London, United Kingdom, in March after being away for 49 days, and left again on May 7, Nigerians literally lost their patience.
Though during his absence at both times, Buhari followed the constitution and temporarily passed his executive power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the citizens said it was time for him to make a decision — either to get back to work or step down.
Street protests organised by the OurMumuDonDo movement, created by a popular artiste, Chukwuemeka Oputa, aka Charly Boy, were held in Abuja, with participants carrying banners with the inscriptions, “Resume or Resign.” There were also street demonstrations in Lagos and at the Nigeria House in London, where Buhari was said to be receiving medical care.
Though the campaign became hot on the social media for the President to resign or return got stronger, he finally returned home on August 19.
from punch.
*You can add any hashtag that is Missing!
#TAP
ReplyDeleteTithe against poverty.
Lol....wereyy.
Delete#FreeTheSheeple
Delete#ON2017 nko???????? In fact these ones are still trending, though for the wrong reason.
ReplyDeletewhat about that guy that was shouting the other day about his wedding louder than bankys.. i cant even remember his name #yeepa!
ReplyDeleteOritse femi
Delete#onbecoming by TM abi no be dis year e happen?
ReplyDeleteBAAD trended like crazy. I think they have a reality show coming up
ReplyDeleteAgree
ReplyDelete#FuelScarcity
ReplyDeleteLols😆😆😆
DeleteNotable mentions
ReplyDeleteBobrisky
Ebuka
Tonto n hubby
Toke makinwa
Wizkid Vs Davido
AY aka daddy ponyor
Bisola n thin tall tony
Tokunbo aka Tboss
My people add yours
Toke & Pa Fadeyi
DeleteStephanie Coker & Kirikiri Hubby
Bobrisky& Jacob& Mc Galaxy
Mercy Aigbe & Lanre Gentry
BAAD and Evans
ReplyDeleteInnoson, GTB and EFCC
ReplyDeleteOoni of Ife and wife
#ChikiChi2017
ReplyDeleteChike na where this your own trend? SDK or twitter
DeleteLol....nah SDK TV Station.
Delete