Senator Natasha Akpoti has emerged as the most searched personality in Nigeria, according to Google’s 2025 Year in Search report, which highlights the interests and concerns that shaped the nation’s online activity during the year.

Google

The report showed that political conversations dominated searches, with Akpoti’s prominence underscoring the intensity of national discourse. Nigerians also followed global developments closely, including the Israel-Iran War and the United States elections.

The country mourned the passing of former   whose deaths prompted widespread searches recalling their legacies and contributions to national life.

Entertainment trends reflected Nigeria’s cultural vibrancy, with gospel hit “Oluwatosin (Jesus Is Enough)” by Tkeyz featuring Steve Hills topping charts, alongside Afrobeats collaborations such as Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You.” Director Kemi Adetiba and the local series “To Kill a Monkey” also drew significant attention.

Google noted that Nigerians displayed curiosity in language and lifestyle, decoding slang like “Labubu” and exploring recipes ranging from Pornstar Martini to traditional Chinchin.

Technology searches were led by interest in the iPhone 17 and Tecno Pop 10, reflecting the country’s embrace of new devices.

“This data offers a real-time window into the Nigerian psyche in 2025, showing a nation engaged, reflective, and creatively vibrant,” said Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications Manager for West Africa.

Nigerian Senate is considering a bill seeking to establish a uniform, toll-free national emergency number for citizens across the country aimed at strengthening the country’s emergency response architecture.

A toll-free number is a phone number that allows callers to make calls without being charged, as the recipient pays for the call.

The proposed legislation is titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Emergency Toll Service (NETS) to Provide Uniform, Accessible and Rapid Emergency Response Through a Dedicated Toll-Free Number Nationwide.

“This is to Empower the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as the regulator and for related matters, 2025 (SB 402)”.

Leading the debate on the second reading of the bill, the sponsor, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua explained that the proposed law would harmonise Nigeria’s numerous emergency numbers into one easily memorable three-digit number.

This is such as 112, or an alternative agreed upon after the public hearing.

He noted that emergency numbers globally, such as 999 in the UK (introduced in 1937) and 911 in the United States (established in 1968), have saved countless lives by simplifying access to help in life-threatening situations.

India’s unified emergency number, he added, became operational in 2014.

However, he said, Nigeria currently operated multiple helplines across states for the police, fire service, ambulance services, domestic violence, child abuse, and disaster response agencies.

He added that Lagos alone had several toll-free emergency numbers linked to different agencies, a situation senators described as confusing and counterproductive during emergencies.

The bill, Yar’adua explained, would ensure that calls or text messages sent to the national emergency number automatically route to the nearest operational emergency response centre, leveraging the fact that nearly 90 per cent of Nigerians use mobile phones.

In his contribution, Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) described the bill as “timely, very important, and urgently needed.”

He emphasised that one of the biggest challenges contributing to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity was the lack of a coordinated and effective communication system between citizens and security agencies.

“If we do this, we will be enhancing our security architecture and contributing significantly to solving the criminalities affecting the country,” Ndume said, urging rapid passage and implementation.

Also supporting the bill, Sen. Tahir Monguno (APC-Borno) said unified communication channels were essential in a period marked by “grave security challenges across the country.”

He said that while security agencies consistently encourage citizens to report suspicious activities, the government must provide a simple, accessible and obstruction-free avenue for such reports.

“This bill gives muscular expression to the need for the general public to report what they see.

“A dedicated toll-free national line would eliminate barriers created by the current multiplicity of emergency numbers”

In his remarks, Jibrin Barau, deputy Senate President, who presided over the session, thanked the sponsor and contributors, commending the initiative as one that would “truly help the people of this country once implemented.”

The bill was thereafter referred to the Senate Committee on Communications for further legislative action to report back within four weeks.

Telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has been honoured with the Best in Technology for Development award at the 2025 edition of the Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility Awards (SERAS), held in Lagos at the weekend.

For its work executing the vision of Airtel Africa Foundation locally, Airtel Nigeria received nominations in two highly competitive categories: Best Company in Environmental Stewardship and Best in Technology for Development. Highlights of the nominations included Airtel’s long-standing commitment to digital inclusion through investments in programmes such as the Federal Government’s Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) initiative.

The SERAS, now in its 19th year, is noted to be Africa’s most consistent platform for recognising excellence in corporate social responsibility and sustainability. This year’s ceremony brought together top organisations committed to improving lives, protecting the environment, and supporting national development.

While acknowledging the progress of sustainability efforts in Africa, SERAS Founder, Ken Egbas, applauded Airtel for championing sustainable development across the continent.

Egbas said, “This year’s record number of entries once again demonstrates just how far the sustainability movement has advanced across Africa. Businesses, governments, and non-profits are no longer treating sustainability as a side initiative but as a core pillar of growth, competitiveness, and long-term legacy. With leading organisations such as Airtel committing to not only doing the work but also telling the stories, the future looks even more promising.”

Airtel Nigeria’s recognition at the 2025 SERAS reflects its leadership in technology-driven empowerment, with the 3MTT sponsorship, for example, resulting in the training of 25,000 young Nigerians across 46 Local Government Areas while the Reimagine Education partnership with UNICEF has connected 942,670 public school pupils in 1,268 schools to digital learning.

Reacting to the award, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman, Airtel Africa Foundation, reiterated the organisation’s dedication to digital inclusion and national development.

Dr Ogunsanya said, “This award strengthens our resolve to keep driving meaningful change through innovation and improved access for Africans. Technology remains one of the most powerful tools for social and economic transformation, and we are proud to contribute to Nigeria’s progress by ensuring that more people, communities, and institutions can benefit from the opportunities it creates.”

Commenting on the win, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, expressed gratitude to the organisers and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to sustainability.

“We are thankful to the organisers of the SERAS awards and accept this honour as a confirmation that our contributions in communities across Nigeria are making a notable impact. To us at Airtel, sustainability is never just a box to tick; it is a long-term responsibility that we are pleased to assume,” he said.

Airtel Nigeria’s recognition at the 2025 SERAS extends its leadership in technology development and environmental stewardship. The company continues to champion digital inclusion, youth empowerment, education, and green initiatives that support Nigeria’s long-term development goals.