31st December, 2023
By Victoria Oluwayemi
In 2023, some of Nigeria’s favourite actors and actresses had a year full of ups and downs making them trend online.
Some had health problems, others had dramas in their lives, and a few became parents. Let’s see what made these Nollywood stars so talked about this year on Google.
1. Moyo Lawal
Actress Moyo Lawal wasn’t getting much attention until a private video of hers got out. Suddenly, everyone was talking about her again. Leaked sex tape swiftly transformed her from obscurity to the talk of the town, revitalizing interest in her career on September 9th, 2023. She had become the most searched Nollywood star on Google.
2. Empress Njamah
Empress Njamah’s ex-boyfriend, George Wade, captured the social media space following his arrest.
Nicholas Jack Davis, the blackmailer linked to Njamah, faced charges, including a range of offenses including rape, sexual assault, simple assault, felonious restrain, terroristic threat, criminal coercion, menacing, robbery, armed robbery, theft of property, forgery or counterfeiting and disseminating. According to the Liberian Police Chief in April, the suspect is identified as Nicholas Jack Davis and not Josh Wade he used in Nigeria.
3. Yul Edochie
Yul Edochie’s spotlight was split between their personal life, including the tragic loss of his child in March, his polygamous marriage, and his vocal political support, notably for Bola Tinubu’s administration. His controversial statements and social media presence kept him consistently in the public eye and became the third most searched actor on Google in 2023.
4. Lizzy Anjorin
Lizzy Anjorin’s year was marked by controversies, from renouncing Islam to engaging in online fights with fellow actresses, notably Iyabo Ojo. Their argument escalated to legal threats. Attempting to end the discord, Paul Okoye (Paulo) proposed a boxing match between Lizzy and Iyabo, offering the victor a prize of N10 million.
5. Nkechi Blessing
Nkechi Blessing, known as a Drama Queen in Nollywood, had a tumultuous love life with breakups and new romances. She went through a messy split with politician Opeyemi Falegan of Ekiti state and then found comfort in a relationship with Eseoghene Obire, aka Xxssive, who worked as a special adviser to the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori. Their romance was public and shared on social media, but it hit rocky ground and ended suddenly, with them unfollowing each other and deleting their shared photos.
Aside from her relationships, Nkechi made waves on social media, notably during an incident involving Farida Abdulkabir’s attempted suicide after her marriage ended with Lagos socialite Demola Okulaja.
6. Mr. Ibu
In October 2023, John Okafor, widely known as Mr Ibu, encountered health struggles, seeking assistance for a threatened leg amputation. The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation covered his medical expenses, but despite their support, Okafor eventually underwent a leg amputation for survival and recovery. This made his popularity soared on Google.
7. Olumide Oworu
Olumide Oworu is known for his roles in popular TV series such as Tari Johnson, a character from the long-running television series “The Johnsons” or Atlas from the popular Netflix series “Far from Home”. He vied for a political seat as a House of Assembly member, representing Surulere 1 constituency in Lagos state under the Labour Party but was unsuccessful as he lost the seat to actor Desmond Elliot in the last elections.
8. Tobi Bakre
Tobi Bakre, a former Big Brother Naija reality star, celebrated the arrival of his second child with his wife, Anu, in September 2023. This him to trend on Google in 2023.
9. Maurice Sam
Maurice Sam, recognized for his diverse acting skills, rose to fame through his role as Acid in the series “Hustle.” This prompted his popularity on Google in 2023.
10. Zack Orji
Renowned Nollywood veteran Zack Orji is in a critical state at the ICU of the National Hospital in Abuja today making him the latest actor trending on Google. Multiple reports showing his photograph as he lay languorously in the hospital have been making the rounds. The 63-year-old actor is said to be unable to walk or speak. Some reports said he slumped at home before he was rushed to the hospital.