It’s the first week of the New Year and like most years, people are frantically setting goals and planning for bigger things. This is important but it is also good to take a moment, reflect on the past year and evaluate. 2016 was quite an eventful year, nothing short of dramatic! Any attempt to exhaust the details will certainly end in futility. So this is somewhat of a disclaimer. As I handpick twelve talking points that shook the recently ended year; I admit they are not exhaustive. Feel free to add item(s) not featured that you consider ought to be here in the comments section. Here goes!
- TRUMP – If the emergence of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President-elect of the United States of America wasn’t the biggest news of 2016, then you tell me what is! The real estate mogul shocked the world by defeating Hilary Clinton – “bigly”.
- BREXIT – It was a stunning reality as British citizens voted to leave the European Union. Nigel Garage spearheaded the “LEAVE” Campaign while David Cameron canvassed votes for the “REMAIN” Campaign. In the wake of an Exit Outcome, David Cameron resigned as the Prime Minister from 10, Downing Street with Theresa May taking over the reins.
- MURRAY – Andy Murray (now, Sir Andy Murray to you) had a fantastic 2016 and became the number one seeded male tennis player after a successful rally to overthrow long-standing world number one, Novak Djokovic.
- LEICESTER CITY F.C – It was the year of the underdogs quite alright especially in the sporting world. With the odds stacked against them at 1/5000, who would have thought they stood the slightest of chance to be the English Premier League champions – Claudio Ranieri and his lads had other ideas though.
5. BOLT & PHELPS – Usain “lightning” Bolt did the incredible by doing the “Triple-Triple” that is winning three gold medals at three consecutive Olympics. (He is probably in 2017 already, he’s that fast!). Michael “the fish” Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time after retiring with an impressive haul of 28 medals.
- THE EXPERIENCE 2016 – For the eleventh year running, what is arguably the biggest concert in the world did not disappoint! House on The Rock church hosted over 700,000 worshippers at the grounds of the Tarawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, Nigeria while millions viewed it online and on their TV screens. Some things just cannot be explained – they have to be EXPERIENCED.
- THE NIGERIAN RECESSION – What was termed “technical” eventually became a reality. For consecutive quarters, the economy witnessed a decline in GDP. Oil prices dropped faster than the laws of gravity would ordinarily allow. The consequences were not funny – massive job cuts, depression, spike in criminality and social vices and a general sense of despondency. Hopefully 2017 will give us more joy!
- MARK ZUCKERBERG – The famous techie and principal owner of Facebook graced Nigeria (I.e “sub-saharan Africa”) with his amiable presence. When he wasn’t talking to techies like himself, he was either taking selfies with the president or simply walking the streets of Yaba – in his trademark outfit of course!
- TERRORISM – Unfortunately terrorism couldn’t be wished away. With major strikes in the US, Germany, France, Turkey, Nigeria to name a few. Aleppo became the eye of the storm as it caused tensions to escalate between the West and the East. Some of the 219 Chibok girls captured in 2014 did gain freedom.
- ENTERTAINMENT – Drake and Taylor Swift outdid themselves by having so many flings in so short a time. Of course there are the usual suspects: Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and the rest of the Kardashians. On the local front, many celebs were in the news for all the wrong reasons – ranging from divorces to very unflattering headlines.
- DEATHS – High-profile ones. Bowie. Prince. George Michael, Nancy Reagan, Papa Wemba, Muhammed Ali, Tim LaHaye, Arnold Palmer, Shimon Peres, Fidel Castro, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. In Nigeria we lost Bukky Ajayi, Henrietta Kosoko, Steven Keshi, Olorogun Michael Ibru, Amodu Shiabu, Col. Muhammed Ali and other fallen soldiers to mention a few. (I would have added Shekarau but he keeps “resurrecting!”).
- YOU – Yes you! In spite of these gory headlines, you were dogged and made it to 2017. You should give God the glory for that alone! Cheers to a bigger, brighter and better 2017!
Mfonobong Inyang is an inspirational speaker, creative writer, youth enthusiast, resource person and nation builder. He is passionate about human capacity development especially in Nigeria and seeks to be part of the solution. Connect with Mfon on Twitter, @inspiredMI_
Good recap points, you missed one very sad incident of death of all the team members of a soccer club in aeroplane crash in Brazil’s town
Very true and very sad. Thank you for the addition