Seunfunmi Joshua
What a remarkable year it has been, right? Undoubtedly, 2023 is unforgettable, marked by a series of significant events. From the tumultuous election period and Hilda Baci’s record-breaking achievement to Twitter’s transformation into X and a reunion of two of the Big 3 of Afrobeats, it’s been quite a journey.
To encapsulate it all, we’ve compiled a quick list of the hottest topics of the year.
Tinubu Eventually Becomes President Of The Federal Republic
After the highly anticipated election on February 25, 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged as the declared President of Nigeria, with Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) as his main rivals.
On May 29, Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially assumed office as the 16th president of the country. However, this inauguration took place amid widespread dissatisfaction among citizens and raised concerns from international observers.
Tinubu’s election campaign and subsequent victory heightened existing divisions along tribal lines in the country. The contentious slogan, “Emi Lokan” (it is my turn), emphasized a Yoruba-led presidency, intensifying tensions among various ethnic groups.
Hilda Baci Breaks The Guiness World Record For Longest Cooking Marathon
In June, Hilda gained recognition as the Guinness World Record holder for the longest cooking marathon. The 26-year-old Nigerian chef started on May 11 and cooked continuously until May 15, preparing over 100 pots of food in four days.
This achievement sparked a trend in Nigeria, with around 1,500 people applying within two months. However, none created as much uproar and generated conversations as Chef Dami from Ekiti state, who attempted to challenge Hilda’s record immediately after she completed her feat. Chef Dami undertook an ambitious 120-hour cooking marathon. Interestingly, we later discovered that she never officially applied to the Guinness World Records team.
Elon Musk, X And The Blue Subscription
You would agree a lot of us are still getting used to the change of name as original Landlord Elon Musk changed Twitter to X, marking the end of an era.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride as various features that have excited and frustrated users alike have been introduced. The most notable being the introduction of Ad revenue, a feature that has been well received by thousands of users across the world.
Other features also include the Blue subscription, where users enjoy posting without character limits amongst other benefits, creating both excitement and chaos.
Mark Zuckerberg Introduces Threads
While Musk was dealing with the complexities of X, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced his competitor app, Threads, in July.
The app quickly gained 10 million users, and as expected, Nigerians enthusiastically joined the mass migration.
The Emergence Of Verydarkblackman
In July, a popular influencer named Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkBlackman, grabbed attention for reporting a skincare brand, Jenny’s Glow Nigeria, to NAFDAC for not registering their products properly. NAFDAC sealed the brand’s office. This made other skincare brands fix their registration too.
Glaxosmithkline, Others Exit
In August, a major pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), chose to leave Nigeria after 51 years, stating that it was challenging to do business there, with fluctuating money exchange rates. Since their departure, the prices of certain medicines increased significantly, negatively affecting many Nigerians who rely on these medicines.
Four months after the exit of GSK, we have seen more companies citing the foreign exchange situation as the main reason.
Bosun Tijani Becomes Nigerian Minister
In August, President Tinubu appointed Bosun Tijani, the co-founder and CEO of CCHub, to be the minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy.
Then, in October, Tijani shared his ideas for the Technical Talent Training program. A program which aims to teach and help three million young Nigerians.
Drug Prices Soar As High As 1000%
After drug distribution companies left the scene, prices skyrocketed by as much as 1000%, particularly impacting essential items like inhalers and antibiotics. The devaluation of the naira and a challenging business environment contributed to a reported shortage of drugs, causing panic among consumers.
Federal Tertiary Institutions 200% Hike in School fees
The government announced that students joining Federal Government Universities would have to pay higher fees. Many universities, including the University of Lagos (UNILAG), raised their fees, some by a large amount—up to 200%. This was unexpected for many students and parents nationwide. Despite the government stating that the actual teaching remains free, the schools introduced additional charges due to challenging economic conditions and high living costs.
Dollar-Naira FX Struggles
For the Nigerian Naira, it’s been a tough situation, going from bad to worse after hitting a record low. In September, its exchange rate was between ₦950 and ₦1200 for one US dollar, a significant drop from the beginning of the year when it was about ₦700. A situation that doesn’t look like it will take a positive turn anytime soon.
Student Loans
President Tinubu sure made 2023 a year to not forget in a hurry with so much talking points. One of these is endorsing the Student Loan Bill on June 12, 2023, intending to provide interest-free loans to needy Nigerian students. The public’s reaction was mixed, as concerns were raised about the loan requirements and the potential two-year imprisonment penalty for non-repayment. The commencement of the Student Loan Scheme is expected in January 2024.
Parents just like students are waiting to see how this whole process unfolds.
Fuel Subsidy Is Gone”
On May 29, 2023, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy, causing fuel stations to hoard fuel. This led to another round of fuel scarcity, panic buying, and increased transportation costs across the country. In his inauguration speech, President Tinubu mentioned that the subsidy couldn’t be sustained given the diminishing resources. The outcome of ending the subsidy included fuel shortages, a jump in the price per litre from ₦198 to ₦617, and an increase in inflation.
Cash Scarcity
Godwin Emefiele initially announced the redesign of ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1000 notes on October 26, 2022, with the goal of combating counterfeiting. The deadline for this initiative was initially January 31, 2023, but it was later extended to February 10, 2023. However, a shortage of the new notes resulted in a lack of cash, causing significant frustration among Nigerians for several months. ATMs were either empty or limited to ₦5k daily withdrawals, leading to longer bank queues. Nationwide protests erupted, resulting in the burning of several banks and ATM points.
People frequently found themselves stranded while trying to make purchases, board buses to work, and more, due to unsuccessful POS or bank transfer transactions. In a tragic incident, a pregnant woman in Kaduna reportedly lost her life because her husband couldn’t obtain cash in time for her admission to a health center. This marked a period of complete chaos and upheaval.
Big Wiz and Davido Reunite
Davido and Wizkid shared a noteworthy moment of camaraderie at a lively beach event captured in a recent viral video, creating a sensation across the internet with their infectious vibes and dance moves. In this delightful footage, the duo, often the subjects of fan debates over who is the superior musician, dispelled any doubts.
Amidst the dancing and relaxation, an intriguing conversation unfolded. Wizkid murmured something, prompting a corresponding response from Davido, intriguing onlookers. The exchange of hugs and tight embraces suggested a camaraderie that seemed to transcend their previous rivalry.
