I started out the year 2021 not knowing what to expect. There was also the fact that I was very reluctant to make any plans, especially with given the context of that 2020 meme which went something like: “You’ve got plans?? Don’t try it”. Anyway, now that the year is a few days from a self-halt, I’m asking myself how things went, how I fared, and what was surprising or disappointing? On a personal note, there were highs and lows, as with every other year. While I am not ready to share my personal journey through the year, here are a seven of 2021 social highlights that impacted me directly, one way or the other.
Mass Exodus
It felt like everyone in Nigeria was on a queue to leave the country. There were a lot of “Japa” announcements. I still have mixed feelings about this one because I am happy for the people who have begun a new phase of their life, but also sad because it has become glaring that the quality of life here in Nigeria is on a rapid decline.
Covid-19 Mutations
Honestly, I’ve never seen or heard of a more confused virus in my life. One day it is delta variant, the next its omicron. A virus that lacks focus is that one virus? Lol. On a serious note, covid-19 just kept evolving in 2021, hopefully it doesn’t spring up any new surprises on us in 2022. But who am I kidding? It probably will.
Twitter Ban by the Nigerian President
It’s so interesting how the Nigerian government placed an indefinite ban on Twitter after the social media platform deleted tweets made by the Nigerian President. It’s been 6 months of using VPN and honestly, we are over it. Ban us we back you back. Nobody gat time.
Loss
We lost some popular celebrities we loved this year. There was Sound Sultan, Racheal Oniga, Baba Suwe etc. The last two were veterans in the Nollywood industry and they will all indeed be sorely missed. May their souls rest in peace.
Upsurge in Tech Companies
As they say, technology is the new oil. Plus, the number of technology companies has increased dramatically this year. Because innovation is on the rise, more opportunities and new jobs have been created and continue to be created. If you want to work in technology, now is the time!
Crypto Ban in Nigeria
The Central Bank of Nigeria sent a letter to banks and other financial institutions in February 2021, stating that trading in cryptocurrencies and enabling payment for cryptocurrency exchanges are banned. The CBN also directed all banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria to identify and cancel the accounts of individuals or businesses who deal in cryptocurrencies or run cryptocurrency exchanges.The CBN claimed that cryptocurrencies are created by unregulated and unregistered companies, and hence usage in Nigeria violated existing laws since they are not legal money.
One Year Anniversary EndSars Protests
It’s been one year since the #Endsars protests. It still feels like a bad dream. One year has passed since we witnessed people being killed via Instagram live and one year since we stood up for something we believe in. People were still arrested during the one-year commemoration match, and, in case you were wondering, not much has changed.
There is a lot more that has happened this year that is not listed here, but personally it has been a good year for me in general and for that I am thankful.
What do you recall about 2021?