Wikimedia User Group Nigeria/Reports/2017-2018

This is the annual report of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria supported by the group. This report includes all activities of the user group from October 2017 to October 2018.

Activities

Wiki Loves Women featuring Lady O Mary

Wikipedian in Residence program

In October Wikimedia User Group Nigeria president, Olaniyan Olushola was appointed to serve as Wikipedian in Residence at Goge Africa, one of the largest cultural oriented non-governmental organization in Nigeria. The organization's staff members were trained on how to contribute to Wikimedia projects. Although, this project is supposed to run for a period of 6 months but has been extended to a year because our partner, Goge Africa are not readily available.

Wiki Women Radio Program

Wikimedia User Group Nigeria finalized a partnership with WFM 91.7 FM to run a weekly program named Wiki Women Radio Program. The began aring in October 2017. The objectives of the partnership includes but not limited to creating awareness about Wikimedia projects, increasing contents, increasing reach, encourage donations of women-related contents and to increase the number of women contributors to Wikipedia. The program is still running till date.

Africa Wikimedia Developers Project

In January 2018, Wikimedia UG Nigeria in partnership with Africa Wikimedia Developers Project team and Open Foundation West Africa organized a developer project to train volunteers on coding and mediawiki and to kickstart developer community in Africa. Felix Nartey from OFWA and Alangi Derrick, a software developer flew to Nigeria to coordinate the project.

Wikimedia UG Nigeria meetups

On 13th January 2018, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria held their first meetup for the year 2018. The February meetup was held in Abuja and it was coordinated by User:Kabusa16, the curator Wikimedia Abuja Hub of Wikimedia UG Nigeria. We have been having our regular meetup with the support of WMF who funded the meeting refreshments and other logistics.

Wikimaster Conference, Lagos

In January 208, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria in collaboration with World of Knowledge (WOK) organized a 3 day conference that focus on creating a strong Community of WOK in Nigeria using Wikipedia as a tool. It also served as a platform to create awareness about Wikimedia projects and Wikimaster and Wikimedia User Group Nigeria. The event was held at Goethe Institute in Lagos and was covered by multiple media including BBC pidgin, TV Continental, STV etc. It was one of the biggest event organized since the establishment of Wikimedia UG Nigeria and World of Knowledge.

WikiGap

On the 8th of March 2018, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria in partnership with Swedish embassy organized a one-day event in Abuja to gather Wikipedian enthusiasts and gender focused organisations to contribute their quota towards correcting systemic bias and bridging gender inequalities on Wikipedia through creation of new articles and improving existing articles about Nigerian women. In attendance was Swedish ambassador to Nigeria, Inger Ultvedt.

Lagos State University, Epe Edit-a-thon/Contest

In April 2018, Wikimedia UG Nigeria in collaboration with Lagos State University fan club organized an edit-a-thon to recruit new contributors to Wikimedia projects. The event was followed by a contest as a strategy to increase contents and engage the new editors. This even marked activities in Lagos State University.

Capacity building by WMF

In May 2018, WMF's Asaf Bartov visited Nigeria to train members of Wikimedia User Group. Trainings were organized in Lagos and the federal capital territory, Abuja. Participants were trained on copyright, how to write an encyclopedic article from a neutral point of view. They were trained on how to use various tool and how to contribute to Wikidata. Asaf with the leadership of Wikimedia UG Nigeria had meetings with government agencies, commissions and the Senate of Nigeria on partnership and the meeting is now yielding positive result.

Wikimedia Fan Club

Wikimedia Fan Club is an outreach program designed by Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN) with the aim of taking Wikimedia projects to all the tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The project was conceptualized to support the result of the New Readers Outreach Survey conducted in Nigeria in the year 2016. Each club is a registered association in all the designated institution and is coordinated by executives, which are appointed by the member of the club. The is headed by a coordinator appointed by Wikimedia User Group Nigeria. Now we have established clubs in six tertiary universities in Nigeria. The newest club was launched on 26th October 2018.

Oyomesi Festival of Learning

In June 2018, Wikimedia Nigeria was invited as one of the stakeholders in Nigeria to participate in Oyomesi Festival of Learning. This is a two days event organized by the Oyo State government to share knowledge. It's also a platform for capacity building and empowerment. Participants where introduced to Wikimedia projects and various ways in which they can contribute. It was also a medium for our community to network with other stakeholders in education.

Wiki Indaba Conference

In July 2018, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria began the planning for African regional conference, Wiki Indaba Conference. The conference grants was submitted in late August and a call for participation on scholarship committee was announced on 3rd September 2018. Scholarship application and program submission was opened on 12th September 2018 and 15th September 2018 respectively. Scholarship applications and program submissions are currently being reviewed by the scholarship and program committee respectively. Our grant request for the conference is also being reviewed.

Nigerian and Nigerian Tourism Development Agency ( NTDC)

On 15th August, 2018 Wikimedia User Group Nigerian and Nigerian Tourism Development Agency ( NTDC) signed a partnership agreement. This event was widely covered in Nigeria media. This partnership was a fallout of the meeting we had with the Agency during WMF's Asaf Bartov visit to Nigeria. Asaf attended our first meeting with the Agency in May 2018 where we identify ways in which we can partner to promote Nigerian culture. Our team, and the management of the Agency eventually signed a partnership agreement in August 15, 2018.

Incorporation as Not-for-profit

In August 2018, Wikimedia user group Nigeria submitted an application to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to register as a not-for-profit organization in Nigeria. The certificate of incorporation would be issued in the next few weeks. We also applied to AffCom to be recognized as a Wikimedia chapter. We shall attach out certifications of incorporation as soon ad its ready.

Meeting with media personality

In September 2018, Our team had a meeting with en:Kayode Akintemi, former operation manager of Channels Television and Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Plus TV Africa on potential partnership. The media personality reiterate their support for Wikimedia Nigeria. Mr. Akintemi said "We at TV Plus are ready to provide support for you and we will be happy to cover your events". They agreed to be our media partner for Wiki Indaba 2019 in Nigeria.

Wikimedia User Group Award of Excellence

On 24th of October 2018, Wikimedia Nigeria awarded the Vice chancellor of Lagos State University an award of excellence in recognition of his tremendous contributions to educational system in Nigeria. Our team were received by the Vice chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun at the VC's office in Ojo Campus. The VC commended Wikimedia User Group Nigeria on their effort to promoting Wikimedia projects and open knowledge in Africa. He described Wikipedia as an invaluable learning site for academics and students. He said the language department of the university will work closely with Wikimedia User Group Nigeria to promote Nigerian language Wikipedia. Our team introduced him to Wikitongues and how our team can work together with the university on this project.

Media coverages

Wikipedia To Increases Nigerian Women Visibility Online published by Sahara Reporters on 13th Sep 2017.
Wikipedia, WOK seek more Nigerian content online published by Vanguard on 29th Jan 2018]
Wiki Loves Earth 2018: Showcasing natural heritage through published by Vanguard on 7th Jun 2018]
Wikipedia out to get more Nigerian content online published by PM News on Jan. 29th 2018
Wikimedia User Group Nigeria partners Nigeria NGOs to promote Women