Igbo Wikimedians User Group 2021 Report

This report outlines the accomplishments and activities of the group between Jan. 2021 and May 5. 2022.

Activities

One of our main goals for the year 2021 and 2022 was to increase the number of contents in Igbo Language across various Wikimedia platforms. To achieve this goal, between January 2021- May 5th 2022, we organized edit a thons, contests, monthly webinars and other activities. The simple Annual Grant was a great push to achieving these goals. We were able to support our community members with micro grants to enable us achieve the goals together.

Below, is a detailed report of our activities:

January 2021 to December 2021 programs

Nigerian Women in Business Edit a thon

On the 6th of March, 2021, we organized an edit a thon titled Igbo Wikipedia Nigerian Women in Business as part of our efforts to celebrate women during the international women's month while also bridging the gender gap on Wikipedia and increasing the number of content on Igbo Wikipedia through translations, editing of existing articles. Igbo Wikimedians User Group/Igbo Wikipedia Nigerian Women in Business edit a thon 7th March 2021

Igbo Wikimedians User Group/Awka Wikipedia Training/Edit a thon (Igbo Dialects)

The Awka Igbo Wikipedia training which took place 29th and 30th of March at Prof. Kenneth Dike Library, Awka is a training were librarians, academics and other participants where taught about Wikimedia, different Wikimedia projects and also trained on how to create and translate articles on Igbo Wikipedia. The project was as result of the internal grant. Igbo Wikimedians User Group/Awka Wikipedia Training/Edit a thon 29th-30th March 2021

Wiki for Human Rights Edit a thon

We also locally organized Wiki for Human Rights to translate the UN Human Rights articles into Igbo Language. [[1]] 24th April 2021

Wikimedia Usergroup Nigeria/Abuja/Meetup April 2017

Igbo Wikimedians User Group International Labour Day Edit a thon - Akaoru Ndi Igbo

On the 1st of May, we organized an edit a thon in Onitsha, Anambra State in commemoration of the International Labour Day to add articles on the Handiwork of the Igbo people. Igbo Wikimedians User Group International Labour Day Edit a thon - Akaoru Ndi Igbo 1st May 2021

Igbo Wikimedians User Group/Igbo Wikipedia Nigerian Women in Education and Sports

One of the internal grants recipients organized edit a thon in Kubwa, Abuja to add more articles into Igbo Wikipedia. More than 20 articles have been added to the Igbo Wikipedia through this. Igbo Wikimedians User Group/Igbo Wikipedia Nigerian Women in Education and Sports 30th May 2021

Igbo Wiktionary Training/Edit a thon

Igbo Wikimedians User Group/June Wiktionary Training/Edit a thon 12th June 2021 We hosted an Igbo Wiktionary training and edit a thon on the 12th of June in preparation for the Igbo Wiktionary writing contest.

Asọmpi Mkpụrụokwu Otu Narị (Igbo Wiktionary 100 Words Challenge)

On 18th of June, we kicked off a writing contest to increase the number of words in Igbo Wiktionary which will ended on the 17th of July. It generated over 700 additional words and definitions in Igbo Wiktionary. Asọmpi Mkpụrụokwu Otu Narị (Igbo Wiktionary 100 Words Challenge) 18th June - 18 July 2021

Wikipedia Pages Wanting Pictures

We are locally organized the WPWP contest which started on the 1st of July and improved over 100 Igbo Wikipedia pages with pictures.

Wikipedia at 20

We made some graphics with different quotes from our Community members about Wikipedia in Igbo Language. This was used to spread more Wikipedia awareness through our different social media pages. Facebook page

Igbo Wikidata Lexemes Training 2

On the 9th of September, 2021, we had organized a second training to get our community members more acquainted with Wikidata Lexicograpy. We had 32 participants join the training and they added 243 Lexemes added with 195 items added to Wikidata. The tracking can be found on this dashboard here: Igbo Wikidata Lexemes Training

Igbo Cultural Heritage Documentary

In September, we did a documentary of the natural spring water in Umuokorocha community Umuahia, a sacred stream in the community. This was done in collaboration with Creative Lens Studios. It couldn't be uploaded to Commons due to the size but the video can be found here: Heritage site documentary

Igbo Wiki and Translatewiki translate a thon

In November, 2021, we organized another edit a thon to add more content to Wikipedia and translate some of the messages on Translatewiki. This resulted to 132 articles translated on Igbo Wikipedia. We tracked this here: Wiki and Translatewiki translate a thon

AfroCine Contest

In November 2021, we joined to host the month of African Cinema contest in the User Group. We had a total of 17 editors and produced 371 articles. It was a great time to tell the story of the African Cinema. Eight Winners emerged from this Contest with Olugold having the highest number of articles. The tracking dashboard is here: AfroCine Contest dashboard

ABC of Wikipedia editing

Still in the month of November, our newly developed Librarians Hub had their first event led by Olugold. 37 new editors were recruited with 21 articles produced. It was an amazing moment for the new Wikipedians. Pictures can be found here: Librarians meetup pictures while the tracking dashboard is here: ABC of Wikipedia Editing

Igbo Lexemes Training and Edith a Thon

The newly developed Wiki Fan Club in Anambra State University Awka hosted their first edit a thon focused on lexemes. The program brought about 15 new editors and over 200 lexemes added. The activity was led by Oby Ezeilo. Images from this event can be found here: Wiki Fan Club Awka

Wikidata Lexemes training Anambra

In December, the Anambra Hub organised their meetup to teach participants how to add the newly introduced lexemes to Wikidata. The activity was led by {u:OnyinyeOnuoha}}. This had over 10 editors in attendance and over 20 new lexemes added. Images from this event can be seen here.photos here

Wikimedia and You Contest

At the end of the year, we organized an end of year contest to add content to Wikipedia, Wiktionary and Wikidata. 54 people registered for this contest. We had a total of 65 Wikipedia inputs, 26 inputs in the Igbo Wiktionary, 1147 lexemes on Wikidata. Winners of this contest were:

Jabin Ekene - Top Wiktionary editor
Olugold - Top Wikipedia editor

Top Lexemes contributors

Community Development

Adopt a User Mentorship program At the second quarter of the year 2021, we started an informal mentorship program where we paired new and existing editors according to the needs of the mentees. This led to the mentorship of over 5 new mentees and with 3 of them starting the new hubs across the state and one becoming an Administrator on Igbo Wikipedia.

New Projects added in 2021

Wikidata Lexicographical data/Focus Languages

In April, we applied for the Wikidata lexicographical data focus languages which Igbo became one of the selected languages.We hosted a training to build the capacity of our community members. We've so far created over 2000 Wikidata lexemes in Igbo Igbo Wikidata Lexemes Training

Wikiquote

For the first time, our community started learning how to edit Wikiquote through the #SheSaid Campaign organized by Tochiprecious as one of the Wiki Loves Women Focus Group members

January 2022 - May 5th 2022

Librarians Meetup at Nnamdi Azikiwe University - 18/02/2022

The Librarians Hub, one of the sub group's of the User Group had its edit a thon today focusing on Nigerian women on Wikidata at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Akwa, Anambra State. During the event, 38 editors were in attendance. 23 editors successfully registered and logged into the dashboard, while others were blocked while trying to register.

At the end of the event, a total of 27 editors registered; there was a total of 509 edits; and 422 items were edited. The events dashboard with participants can be found Tracking dashboard

Online tutorial to guide new editors - 29/01/2022

This is an online session by the librarians hub specifically to guide and tutor new editors. After guiding new editors we encourage them to participate and track their activities on the event dashboard

Introduction to English and Igbo Wikipedia - 24/02/2022

Introduction to English and Igbo Wikipedia is an Ig Wiki Librarians Hub event focused on introducing and teaching new editors the basics of creating articles on English Wikipedia and translating/publishing on Igbo Wikipedia. To promote involvement of new editors,the event was a Translate-A-Thon and participants were encouraged to translate/publish articles during the event. A total of 17 editors registered; 89 articles were created; and a total of 202 articles were edited as at 25th February 2022, 04:25 (WAT). Comprehensive information can be found on the event dashboard.

Introduction to Igbo Wikiquote -04/03/2022

Introduction to Igbo Wikiquotes was a training for old and new participants of the Ig Wiki Librarians Hub. The event was held on 4th March 2022 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State participants were thought how to create quotes of notable people in Igbo language. They selected names from the redlist in the Wikimedia Incubator to create new pages. Interested participants were Library and Information Science students and Management Science students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

15 participants were expected to participate during the training but due to blocks during registration, 13 participants registered on the event dashboard. At the end of the training, 65 articles on Igbo Wikiquotes,were created 73 articles edited and 177 total edits as at 7th March 2022, 11:09 (WAT). Additional information can be found on the event dashboard

Introduction to Igbo Wikiquote II

It was a training for interested participants under the Ig Wiki Librarians Hub. The event was held on 11th March 2022 at The Nigerian Book Foundation, Prof. Kenneth Dike Central e-library, Awka, Anambra State. Participants were thought how to translate English quotes of children authors to Igbo language. They selected names from the redlist in the Wikimedia Incubator to create new pages. The training participants were members of the Association of Nigerian Authors and students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. This training was a continuation of Introduction to Igbo Wikiquote.

At the end of the training,19 participants 124 articles on Igbo Wikiquotes,were created 136 pages edited and 448 total edits as at 13th March 2022, 04:37 (WAT). See event dashboard for more details

Launch of Wiki Fan Club University of Nigeria, Nsukka and introduction to Wikipedia - 19/02/2022

An Introduction to Wikipedia and Igbo Wikimedia to interested students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, towards instituting an Igbo Wikimedians Fans Club in University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Wikipedia in Campus: On Becoming a Wikimedian - 05/03/2022

A Wikipedia translate-a-thon carried out to Launch the Igbo Wiki Fan Club in Alvan; to Sensitize and Train the students of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, about the Wikimedia Foundation, to contribute in making available Articles on Notable Nigerian Women both in Academia and Sport to Igbo Wikidata. It took place on Saturday, the 5th of March, 2022 at ETF UPSTAIRS, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State.

The event focused on introducing and teaching new participants the basics of creating articles on English Wikipedia and translating/publishing on Igbo Wikipedia. At the end of the event, a total of 16 Editors successfully registered; while quite a number were blocked. As at the time of this report being 9th March, 2022 82 Articles were Created; 137 Articles were Edited and a total of 183 Edits were recorded, 08:00 (WAT). Comprehensive information can be found on the event dashboard.

Wiki Loves Folklore 2022

This year for the first time, we hosted the Wiki Loves Folklore in our community. We had 14 participants join the contest and 300 photos about the Igbo culture uploaded. The quality photos can be seen here: from Wiki Loves Folklore 2022 organized by the Igbo Wikimedians User Group

WikiGap Challenge

The Challenge was organized as part of the global WikiGap campaign by Igbo Wikimedians User Group in Nigeria. It was an event to celebrate International Women's Day. Due to the prevailing global pandemic and to enable us reach more people in Nigeria, we therefore hosted a 2hr online training via Zoom on Wikipedia for interested participants followed by the online contest. 1002 articles were added during this challenge and there were 3 winners across the projects. The dashboard can found here:WikiGap Challenge dashboard 2022

WikiForHumanRights Contest

The Wiki For Human Rights Contest is a public writing competition to create, improve articles and to encourage Wikimedians to write about Human Rights in Igbo language. The tracking dashboard can be found here. At the end of the contest 42 editors registered on the dashboard, 913 articles were created as at 23:59 (WAT), 02 May 2022 and 1.56k articles edited. 8 editors listed their contributions on the contest page and top 3 were selected for prizes.

WikiQuote Edit-a-ton on African Entrepreneurs - 23/04/2022

A WikiQuote Edit-A-Thon/translate-a-thon carried out in Igbo Wiki Fan Club, Alvan; to train the participants on how they can contribute to the Igbo Wikiquote with quotes from African Entrepreneurs Dashboard here

Internal Grant Programs

Edit-a-thon at IG Wikimedia Fan Club University of Nigeria, Nsukka - 22/02/2022

Nigerian Women in Politics, Career and Business Edit-a-thon by the newly activated IG Wikimedia Fan Club at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 23 people were in attendance with 116 articles translated. See the event dashboard for more information.

Nigerian women on Wikidata: Creating items and adding Igbo descriptions -18/02/2022

This event was an edit-a-thon event on adding Igbo descriptions to items of Nigerian women on Wikidata. It was held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Akwa, Anambra State. During the event, 38 editors were in attendance. 23 editors successfully registered and logged into the dashboard, while others were blocked while trying to register.

At the end of the event, a total of 27 editors registered; there was a total of 509 edits; and 422 items were edited(Igbo descriptions were added to these items) as at 18th February 2022, 21:08 (WAT). See events dashboard with participants here

Translate a thon on Nigerian Festivals, Igbo Music and Culture -23/02/2022

This event which was held on 23rd February 2022 in Awka, Anambra State, focused on translate a thon to encourage editors' involvement in translating and publishing English Wikipedia articles to Igbo under the Igbo Wikipedia. Expected number of participants was 15 but at the event there was a turn out of 32 participants. 28 got registered amongst which 6 were blocked and were unable to translate any article.

It was proposed that 75 articles will be achieved within a week after the event, but as at 10:00 WAT of 24th February (24 hours after the event), we achieved 106 created articles on Igbo Wikipedia. Other information can be found on the event dashboard.

Edit-a-thon on Wikidata: VC of Nigeria Universities 26/02/2022

VC of Nigeria Universities,Edit-a-thon/training by the newly activated IG Wikidata Fan Club at the Federal Polytechnic Idah, kogi state . During the event, 42 editors were in attendance. 32 editors successfully registered and logged into the dashboard, while 8 were blocked while trying to register. 159 contents added, 201 items edited, 1.01k total edits.

Translate a thon on Sports Men and Women in Nigeria

This Program encouraged 7 participants to Edit and Translate articles from English to Igbo Language. All of the articles were about Sports Men and Women that are from Nigeria and have represented the Country in different competitions, At least 100 articles have been edited and translated so far. The Event was held from 05/03/2022 to 05/05/2022 in Umuahia, Abia State Event Dashboard

Adding quality contents including uploading of pictures on Igbo Wiktionary

206 edits were made and 24 pictures were uploaded with the help of 12 editors. The program commenced on 3rd March and we finished on the 20th of April 2022. The new participants were trained on how to create words and upload pictures on the Igbo Wiktionary. [[2]]

Igbo Wikimedians User Group X Campus Photo Fest Wiki Loves Africa 2022 activities

We partnered with Wiki Loves Africa to host the Campus Photofest in April with 420 photos uploaded. More details here

Abia Hub translate a thon

The hub participated in a translate-a-thon on Notable Nigerian Women in Politics which encouraged participants to edit and translate articles on Notable Women Actively or Passively involved in Politics in Nigeria. The program commenced on the 5th of February 2022 and ended on the 28th of February 2022 with 16 participants and a total edits of 65 articles. Participants where trained on how to edit and translate articles on Wikipedia and were equipped with tools to aide them on their journey as editors. [Event Dash Board]

Community Development

Learning Webinar - WikiCommons: Using the ISA TOOL

On the 9th of April, we'll be hosting a learning to train our community members on how to use the ISA tool for WikiCommons. This is in line with one of our objectives for 2022 which includes building the Skillsets of our community members.

Wiki Mentor Africa

A program developed by our Wikidata Coordinator udehb aimed at helping new and inexperienced developers/programmers in Africa on not just how to edit WIkidata but also on mentoring them in building and maintaining Wikidata tools by pairing them with creators and contributors. The maiden edition of the Wiki Mentor Africa program titled Linking Biodiversity Data through Wikidata using Webapps and Jupyter Notebook took place from 22nd to 25th of April. With Andra Waagmeester as our first Mentor and udehb as host attracted 113 applications and 33 participating in the program.

Newly established Fan Clubs and Hubs

For sustainability, continuity, awareness and development, we started new Hubs across the South Eastern states to help us in reaching out to other parts of Igbo Land. The three hubs where:

Ig Wikidata Hub led by Udehb they engage in all things Wikidata
[Wiki Librarians Hub] led by Olugold this hub brings together librarians to join the movement and support especially in the area of referencing.
Abia State Hub led by Chimereze Okoro
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Fan Club our first University Fan Club led by Oby Ezeilo
Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Fan Club led by Iwuala Lucy
University of Nigeria, Nsukka Fan Club led by Chikeme Chizurum
Wikidata Fan Club, Federal Polytechnic Ida managed by Accuratecy051 and Henryojonugwa

Outcomes and Learnings

The annual grant helped us achieve a lot and we wouldn't have done so much without it.
We've come to learn that we can achieve more as a community than as one individual organizing events.
There was an increase in content creation while also sharing knowledge in Igbo Language through more projects. Igbo Wikipedia now at 4,169, Wiktionary at 1,750 and Igbo Wikiquote from 4 to 1,261 quotes.
The micro grants given to our community members helped us organize more outreaches in places we wouldn't be able to.
Having more Fan Clubs and Hubs was a new way to reach out to unreached Communities.

Challenges

One major challenge we faced was blocking of participants and community members. It made people lose enthusiasm.