Wikimedia User Group Nigeria 2024 activities

Wikimedia UG Nigeria activities
2024
activities reports

This page is designed to document the activities of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria for the year 2024. But this will run from May 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. Some projects have separate documentation. Please click on the links for more information.

May 2024

Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Annual Management, Staff, and Leaders Retreat Report - May 2024

The Wikimedia User Group Nigeria convened its annual Management, Staff, and Leaders Retreat from May 1 to May 5, 2024. The retreat aimed to establish and outline clear goals for the current fiscal year, promote teamwork and collaboration, brainstorm on new initiatives, and build capacity for networks and fan clubs. The specific objectives were to establish and outline clear goals for the current fiscal year, align network and club goals with broader organizational objectives, brainstorm effective strategies for implementing new initiatives, promote teamwork and collaboration among participants, set the stage for a successful and productive year ahead, and build capacity for networks and fan clubs.

The retreat was a three days programs and was attended by a total of 31 participants, including staff and management members of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria and 22 representatives from fan clubs and hubs. It took place at the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria office in Lagos, with accommodation, lunch, and dinner provided at De Santos Hotel.

The activities included goal-setting and alignment sessions led by executive leaders on the first day, brainstorming sessions on new initiatives and capacity-building workshops on the second day, and team-building exercises and collaboration workshops on the third day.

The annual Management, Staff, and Leaders Retreat of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria successfully achieved its objectives of goal setting, alignment of objectives, brainstorming on new initiatives, and promoting teamwork and collaboration. The event provided a valuable platform for capacity-building and setting a productive course for the organization in the fiscal year ahead.

The full report of the retreat is available on Meta-Wiki at 2024 Staff and Leaders Retreat.

Wikimedia UG Nigeria Anambra Network

The president of the Anambra Network, Dr. Ngozi Perpetua Osuchukwu, participated in the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria retreat held in Lagos from 2-5 May 2024. The Anambra Network conducted its regular monthly online meetup/training session on 6 May 2024 at 5 PM. The session focused on the registration of memberships to the WUGN website, providing a hands-on opportunity for participants to register immediately. The various levels of registration were explained and well-received by attendees. A brainstorming session convened by the Anambra State Agency ICT was held at Kodex Hub in Awka on 14 May 2024. The Anambra Network, along with other civil society organizations (CSOs), was invited to participate. The session focused on climate change, startups, technology, and sustainability. During the session, participants gained valuable insights into climate change, technology, and startup initiatives. The collaboration between the Anambra State Agency ICT and the CSOs opened new avenues for free knowledge exchange and further collaboration.

Wikimedia UG Nigeria Gombe Network

The Gombe Wikimedia Network carried out several impactful activities in May 2024, contributing to the promotion of open knowledge and gender balance on Wikimedia projects. Key activities included the conclusion of the Wiki Loves Africa 2024 campaign, the Wikipedia Needs More Women Campaign, and the Knowledge Circle webinar focused on addressing gender disparity using Wikimedia projects. The objectives were to promote African cultural heritage through multimedia contributions, increase female participation in editing Wikipedia and its sister projects, and address gender disparity on Wikipedia through practical training and local language documentation.

The 2024 Wiki Loves Africa campaign concluded in line with the international timeline, with thirty members participating and uploading 215 multimedia files (photos, videos, and audio). The Wikipedia Needs More Women Campaign involved training 53 women professionals across two days. Forty-two women professionals registered through a shared Google form, and a total of 53 participants (including males) attended the training, with 23 on day one and 30 on day two. As a result, 25 participants registered on the dashboard, 45 new articles about female professionals were created on Wikipedia and Wikidata, 157 articles were edited, 620 edits were made, 33.8k words were added, 5 references were added, 18k total views were achieved, and 19 images were uploaded.

The Knowledge Circle webinar, themed “Documenting Female Professionals Using Wikimedia Projects,” focused on using local languages and featured Kambai Akau, Co-founder of Tyap Wikimedians UG. Eighteen users registered, with an average of 15 in attendance. Challenges included technical glitches due to an expired Zoom subscription and power outages across the Northeast.

Key learnings from these activities included Gombe's commitment to promoting African cultural heritage through quality multimedia contributions, the potential for increasing female participation in knowledge creation as demonstrated by the success of the Wikipedia Needs More Women Campaign, and a practical approach to addressing gender disparity on Wikimedia projects as evidenced by the Knowledge Circle session.

The Gombe Wikimedia Network had a productive May, contributing to open knowledge initiatives through Wiki Loves Africa, empowering women through the Wikipedia Needs More Women Campaign, and providing practical training on addressing gender imbalance on Wikimedia projects with a focus on local languages.

Wikimedia UG Nigeria Niger-Delta Network

Wiki Niger Delta, in collaboration with the Ibani Language Development Initiative, conducted a two-day Wikipedia awareness and training program aimed at revitalizing the Ibani language and highlighting its cultural heritage through Wikipedia and its related projects. The objectives were to empower indigenous speakers of the Ibani language to use Wikipedia as a tool for language preservation and cultural documentation, and to raise awareness about the importance of digital literacy and online knowledge sharing among Ibani language speakers.

The program took place from 31 May to 1 June 2024, between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, at the Bonny Island Local Government Conference Hall. The training sessions were facilitated by Ashioma Medi, Aborisade Adetola, and Michael Diala. Activities included Wikipedia awareness sessions focusing on the significance of language preservation and cultural heritage on Wikipedia, as well as hands-on training on how to edit, contribute, and utilize Wikimedia projects effectively.

Twenty-five indigenous speakers of the Ibani language attended the program, and participants gained practical skills in contributing to Wikipedia, with a focus on Ibani language articles and cultural heritage documentation. The two-day Wikipedia awareness and training program organized by Wiki Niger Delta and the Ibani Language Development Initiative successfully equipped participants with the knowledge and skills to leverage Wikipedia for language revitalization and cultural heritage preservation. Moving forward, sustained efforts will be crucial in ensuring continued engagement and contribution to Wikimedia projects by Ibani language speakers.

Wikimedia UG Nigeria Osun State Network

The Osun State Network hosted a Wikipedia workshop titled "How to be a Wikipedian" on 28 May 2024 at the Eti-Osa Lecture Theater. The event drew a total of 120 participants and was divided into two sessions: Yoruba and English. The workshop aimed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become active contributors to Wikipedia, addressing discrepancies in content coverage. Editors, academics, and specialists collaborated to enhance articles on marginalized communities, underrepresented subjects, and neglected viewpoints. The event promoted diversity, equity, and collaboration within the Wikipedia community, enabling meaningful contributions to the world's largest online encyclopedia and fostering values of open access and collaborative knowledge creation.

The English session, anchored by Kudirat Oyedele, featured facilitators Miss Ajeigbe Rukayat and Miss Faridah Igbayilola. They guided students through the basics of Wikipedia editing, including account creation, and editing. The session began with a welcome address by the Team Lead, followed by a keynote speech by Dr. Sanni Azeez, the HOD of the department, and Dr. Olusegun Liadi, the Dean of COMAS. The facilitators' presentations and training included a question-and-answer session and a spoken word interlude by Maryam Olabisi Abdulghaniyyi.

The Yoruba session, anchored by Alimat Oseni, featured a presentation and training by Miss Dorcas Omolade. She explained what Wikipedia is, and after her presentation, questions were taken from the audience. A game session followed, serving as an interlude.

Awards were presented to the facilitators, and certificates were given to the participants. Pictures were taken, and a vote of thanks was given. However, the workshop faced challenges. The assigned location was already occupied by a class, causing a delay in the workshop's start. The audience had to wait outside, leading to a ripple effect of late arrivals. Despite these obstacles, the event proceeded successfully.

The Wikipedia Training Workshop, through the invited speakers, provided participants with the necessary knowledge to become functional Wikipedians who can contribute meaningfully to Wikimedia projects. With a focus on practical application, the workshop equipped participants with the tools and confidence to share their expertise, perspectives, and experiences, enriching the Wikipedia community and enhancing its content's accuracy and diversity. The presence of the some management of the university and other dignitaries added to the occasion's significance.

Wikimedia UG Nigeria Kwara State University Fan Club

In the month of May, several online meetings were held where the representative of the executive who attended a leadership retreat provided a report and shared some pictures of the retreat with other members of the executive committee. They met with the staff adviser to discuss their planned visitation to the Vice-Chancellor and inquired about the plans for presenting gifts, specifically Wiki-themed items. They also discussed the project to work on in the month of June and were advised to proceed accordingly at the appropriate time.

One of the plans for the month of June is to meet with the school's Vice-Chancellor and present some gifts to him on behalf of the Kwasu Wikimedia Fan Club.

Lagos State University Fan Club

The president attended the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Community Leaders Retreat from 2nd to 5th May. Following the retreat, a meeting was convened to discuss new strategies and initiatives with other executives. Topics included the introduction of a new membership method and discussions on charter signing. During this period, the community focused on several key projects. The membership drive resulted in 35 applications, including 1 staff member, 1 postgraduate member, and the remainder students. Plans were made to conduct an onboarding session for registered members to join the WUGN website. The community successfully applied for and received an Ultra Micro Grant to cover expenses related to the onboarding session, data reimbursement, and club registration with the students affairs department (transportation and printing). Additionally, the community applied for and received approval for a 1Lib1Ref Grant to conduct training in two phases: online and physical, scheduled for May. May was a month of significant activity aimed at promoting a sustainable and effective community of Wikipedia editors, preparing for the second semester and beyond at the university.

University of Ibadan Fan Club

The fan club had a meeting in May with several outcomes. All central executives registered as members of Wikipedia Nigeria User for the UI Fan Club, with registration links shared on the general platform for other club members. They initiated awareness campaigns on UI publicity platforms for new intakes and developed a membership form for current and prospective members, gathering information such as student level, courses of study, and birthdays. Additionally, they established weekly activities for Wiki UI Fan Club members via the WhatsApp group to enhance engagement and collaboration.

June 2024

Afro Creatives WikiProject +film

Executive summary

The Afro Creatives WikiProject, which ran from May 18th to June 17th, 2024, aimed to promote African content on Wikipedia and bridge the knowledge gap in the film industry. Throughout the project, a total of 759 articles were created, over 1,000 articles were edited, and more than 40 editors participated, resulting in over 2,000 contributions.

A key highlight was the in-person event held at the American Corner on May 30th, where 21 filmmakers from the Actors Guild of Nigeria gathered and collaborated with Africa Narrative. This event offered Wikimedia Nigeria a valuable opportunity to engage with the film industry, with representation from Ayokanmi, Rhoda, Barakat, and Adenike. The focus was on educating the participants about Wikipedia and equipping them with the skills needed to create and edit Wikipedia articles, thereby enhancing the visibility of African filmmakers and their work on the platform.

As a result of this project, there was a notable increase in the visibility of Nigerian filmmakers on Wikipedia, heightened awareness of Wikimedia Nigeria and its mission, and strengthened partnerships with both the film industry and Africa Narrative. The project also empowered filmmakers with the skills to contribute to Wikipedia. The success of this initiative paves the way for future collaborations and further promotes the richness and diversity of African content on Wikipedia.

Goals and Objectives

To enhance African content on Wikipedia and bridge the knowledge gap in the film industry by creating and editing articles about African filmmakers and their work.
To work together with Africa Narrative to increase visibility for African filmmakers on Wikipedia.
To actively engage filmmakers during the event, providing them with guidance on creating and editing Wikipedia articles, and fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing.
To boost awareness of Wikimedia Nigeria and its mission among participants, and to empower filmmakers with the skills needed to contribute to Wikipedia.
To build stronger partnerships with the film industry and Africa Narrative, setting the stage for future collaborations aimed at promoting African content on Wikipedia.

Achieved outcomes


SN	Goals and Objectives	Achieved Outcomes
1	200 articles edited	More than 700 articles created
2	20 editors participation	Over 30 editors participated
3	At least one in-person event	We held one physical event

Challenges

Technical hurdles: Some participants faced technical difficulties in navigating the Wikipedia platform and creating/editing articles, which include IP blocks.
Lack of proper communication from the regional organizers

Mitigation

To register accounts before hand and start early communication with partners.

Conclusion

The Afro Creatives WikiProject and Film Contest in Nigeria was a resounding success, achieving its goals of promoting Nigerian content on Wikipedia and addressing the knowledge gap in the film industry. The project saw significant engagement, with over 759 articles created and 1,000 articles edited, thanks to the collaboration with Africa Narrative. An in-person event held at the American Corner on May 30th brought together 21 filmmakers from the Actors Guild of Nigeria and served as a platform for introducing Wikimedia Nigeria and educating participants about Wikipedia.

The guidance and engagement provided by the team—Ayokanmi, Rhoda, Barakat, and Adenike—empowered filmmakers with the skills to contribute to Wikipedia, thereby enhancing the visibility of Nigerian filmmakers and their work on the platform. The project also strengthened partnerships with both the film industry and Africa Narrative, setting the stage for future collaborations to further promote the richness and diversity of African content on Wikipedia.

Despite facing challenges such as limited resources, technical issues, and communication hurdles, the project's success highlights the potential for future initiatives in this area. The outcomes and impact of the Afro Creatives WikiProject and Film Contest lay a strong foundation for ongoing efforts to amplify African voices and narratives on Wikipedia, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse representation on the platform.

1Lib1Ref 2024 Nigeria

Executive summary

The 1lib1refNG 2024 contest aimed to enhance the credibility and reliability of Wikipedia articles by adding verifiable sources. The contest saw enthusiastic participation from over 40 contributors, leading to the addition of more than 20,000 references across various Wikipedia articles. This effort not only significantly improved the credibility of the articles but also highlighted exceptional research skills and fostered a collaborative spirit among participants.

Three deserving winners—Chizoba2, Mercyjamb123, and Senator Choko—were recognized for their outstanding contributions. Their dedication, along with the collective efforts of all participants, underscores the significant impact of such initiatives in enriching the quality and reliability of Wikipedia content.

Goals and Objectives

Provide an avenue to attract new editors and encourage their contributions to Wikipedia.
Improve Wikipedia articles by increasing the number of verifiable references.
Actively engage with filmmakers during events, offer guidance on creating and editing Wikipedia articles, and foster a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing.
Increase participants' awareness of Wikimedia Nigeria and its mission, and empower filmmakers with the skills needed to contribute to Wikipedia.
Strengthen partnerships with the film industry and Africa Narrative, paving the way for future collaborations that promote African content on Wikipedia.

Achieved outcomes

SN	Goals and objectives	Achieved outcomes
1	30 persons to participate	Over 70 editors participated
2	10,000 references added	Over 20,000 references added
3	Club and network participation	8 clubs and networks got grants and participated

Challenges

Some participants were unable to use the provided hashtag, but the dashboard was able to address this issue. Additionally, some networks held their events outside the contest timeline.

Mitigation

To address these challenges, additional office hours should emphasize the importance of using the correct hashtags and ensure that all programs adhere to the contest timeline.

Conclusion

The 1Lib1Ref 2024 Nigeria project was a resounding success, surpassing its goals and objectives. The enthusiastic participation of over 70 editors resulted in the addition of more than 20,000 verifiable references to Wikipedia articles, significantly enhancing their credibility and reliability. The project not only met its objectives but also fostered collaboration, showcased exceptional research skills, and empowered participants to contribute meaningfully to Wikipedia. Despite challenges such as some participants' inability to use the provided hashtag and events occurring outside the contest timeline, the team effectively mitigated these issues. Moving forward, it is important to build on the momentum of this project, strengthen partnerships, and continue empowering contributors to enrich the quality and reliability of Wikipedia content.

Wiki Loves Africa and Wiki Loves Folklore

On June 22, 2024, the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria hosted a virtual ceremony to celebrate the achievements of Nigerian contributors to the Wiki Loves Africa 2024 and Wiki Loves Folklore 2024 campaigns. This event marked a significant milestone in promoting Nigerian culture and heritage on Wikimedia projects.

The ceremony brought together Wikimedia enthusiasts, photographers, and culture enthusiasts from across Nigeria, showcasing the country's rich cultural diversity and creative talent. The event highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in documenting and sharing Nigeria's cultural heritage with a global audience.

Wiki Loves Africa

Wiki Loves Africa is an annual contest where individuals across Africa can contribute media related to the theme of the year to Wikimedia Commons for use on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. This year's theme was "Africa Creates," which aimed to showcase the creative and cultural aspects of Africa. The contest was held from March 1 to April 30, 2024, and received an overwhelming response from Nigeria, with:

3,021 images submitted
182 registered participants
76 new users joining the contest

Jury Process

The Wiki Loves Africa in Nigeria 2024 jury process commenced on May 17, 2024, and spanned two weeks. A panel of 8 professional photographers and experts from Nigeria, renowned for their attention to detail, constituted the jury. The montage tool was used for the jury process which consisted of three rounds:

Round 1 (Yes/No): Each juror reviewed 290 images, making decisions on which ones to advance. This round focused on removing images that didn't align with the contest scope.
Round 2 (Rating): The second round presented 188 images to each juror for evaluation, rating them from 1 to 5 stars. 5 stars for exceptional images that strongly align with the theme, 4 stars for good images within the theme, and 3-1 stars for images ranked according to the juror's discretion.
Round 3 (Ranking): The jurors assessed the top 20 images and ranked them from top 1 to 20. After this round, the jury engaged in deliberations, which led to the final conclusions.

Wiki Loves Folklore

Wiki Loves Folklore is an international photographic competition that celebrates cultural diversity worldwide through Wikimedia projects. This year's contest was held from February 1 to March 31, 2024, and encouraged individuals to share photos showcasing Nigerian culture, folklore, and storytelling. The contest saw:

819 images submitted
55 registered participants
21 new users joining the contest

Jury Process

The Wiki Loves Folklore in Nigeria 2024 jury process commenced on May 17, 2024, and spanned two weeks. A panel of 7 professional photographers from Nigeria, renowned for their attention to detail, constituted the jury. The montage tool facilitated the entire process, which consisted of three rounds:

Round 1 (Yes/No): This initial round focused on removing images that didn't align with the contest scope. Each juror reviewed 118 images, making decisions on which ones to advance.
Round 2 (Rating): In this round, each juror assessed 49 images, rating them from 1 to 5 stars. 5 stars for exceptional images that strongly aligned with the theme, 4 stars for good images within the theme, and 3-1 stars for images ranked according to the juror's discretion.
Round 3 (Ranking): The jurors ranked their top images from 1 to 14. After this round, the jury engaged in deliberations, leading to the final conclusions.

Naija Office Hour in June 2024

Naija Office Hour in June was a significant event aimed at executing various programs and projects successfully. Held on the 1st of June 2024, this was the first edition of the Naija Office Hour for the new fiscal year. The event's goal was to unite people globally—both speakers and participants—to discuss various crucial topics, with the aim of educating and enlightening attendees.

The theme for the June edition was "Planning for Impact: WMF Annual Plan Engagement," and it featured Mr. Olushola Olaniyan and Behinda Mbambo as hosts, with speakers drawn from the Wikimedia Foundation's leadership: Anusha Aikhan (Chief Communication Officer), Selena Deckelmann (Chief Product and Technology Officer), and Mayur Paul (Senior Director, Movement Communication). They extensively discussed the Wikimedia Annual Plan and its potential impact on community projects and affiliates. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, which were answered by the speakers. Highlights of the event included the announcement of winners for the Wiki Loves Earth and Wiki Love Folklore contests.

The event was well-received, with over 150 registered participants and more than 100 who stayed until the end. There were no major challenges reported before, during, or after the event. The smooth planning process was facilitated by staff advisor Belinda Mbambo and Manar Jacob, which contributed to the event's success.

July 2024

Wiki Loves Earth 2024

We organized the national contest for Wiki Loves Earth 2024 in Nigeria. This is the fifth time we have organized the national edition of the contest in Nigeria. The contest was organized in collaboration with established Wikimedia User Groups in Nigeria, including the Hausa Wikimedians User Group, Yoruba Wikimedians User Group, Tyap Wikimedians User Group, and Igbo Wikimedians User Group.

The contest ran from May 1 to June 30, 2024, and a total of 2,588 images were contributed by the participants. These images were contributed by professional photographers in our network and freelance photographers. In total, 198 photographers participated, making this the highest number of image contributions and participants we have recorded in Nigeria since we started organizing the campaign five years ago. There were promotion about the contest on our various social media networks. We also provided microgrants for our networks and fanclubs in Nigeria to organize the contest.

Donation of audiovisual materials to Adekunle Ajasin University

On July 5, 2024, the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN), in collaboration with the Wikimedia Yoruba User Group (WUGN), donated the Nigeria Oral History audiovisual materials to Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA). The donation was complemented by a capacity-building session for students, with over 500 participants in attendance. This initiative also led to the establishment of a new Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Fan Club to promote Wikimedia activities within the university. The WUGN delegation included Olaniyan Olushola, Olatunde Isaac, and Ayokanmi Oyeyemi.

The event began with a courtesy visit to the university management, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. During this visit, the team officially presented the donated audiovisual materials, which were warmly received and appreciated by the university authorities.

The following day, a large-scale training session was conducted for over 500 students. The session introduced Wikimedia projects and educated participants on how they could contribute meaningfully to Wikipedia and its sister platforms. The training laid the foundation for continued engagement with the university community. The event concluded with the formal launch of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Fan Club, to promote continued engagement with the students and the university management.

August 2024

Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos 2024

Between 1st of August and the 31st of August 2024, the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria organized a local contest for the global Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos 2022 for the 4th time, to add images to Wikipedia articles that are lacking. Series of online training were organized for participants joining the campaign and there were funded activities Anambra State, Enugu State, Yobe State, Delta State, Imo State and Gombe State. The hashtag for the contest in Nigeria was #WPWPNG. At the end of the campaign, a total of 36 people participated in the campaign, and images were added to 8,142 Wikipedia articles in 17 languages. The top 3 contributors are User:Dev moha2507, User:Legendary3920 and User:Dera xoxo. Prizes in the form of souvenirs and Certificates were awarded to the top contributors.

New editors were not allowed to participate to minimize disruptions, and participation was restricted to experienced editors only. However, we are exploring strategies to enable new editors to participate while ensuring minimal disruptions.

September 2024

Wiki Loves Monuments 2024 in Nigeria

The 2024 edition of Wiki Loves Monuments in Nigeria was largely successful, with increased participation compared to previous years. A total of 2,209 images were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons during the contest, with contributions from 187 uploaders. This high contributions positioned Nigeria as the top-performing country in Africa in terms of the number of images contributed and the fourth globally in the number of contributors. We ranked 10th globally for the total number of images uploaded. On September 28th, a photowalk was organized in Oshogbo, Osun State, and images of monuments were taken from different parts of the state and at least 30 professionals participated in the photowalk. On September 22nd, an office hour session was held to provide guidance and support to participants. This is to enhance the quality of contributions and addressing any challenges encountered.

We provided at least seven micro-grants to support the remote organization of the contest. The Nigerian team was also represented at the Post-Colonial Reconstruction (PCR) anniversary, an event that aligned with the overarching goals of documenting and preserving heritage.

In addition to the virtual and remote in-person activities, the contest included an in-person event that primarily focus on capacity building on how to upload the images to Wikimedia Commons as many of the professional photographers who joined the photowalk are new to Wikimedia projects and requaires training to successfully upload the contents to Commons.

WikiConference Nigeria

The WikiConference Nigeria 2024 took place in Abuja, Nigeria, from 12–14 September 2024. This conference was hosted and organized by the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria in collaboration with established Wikimedia User Groups in Nigeria, including the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group, Igbo Wikimedians User Group, Hausa Wikimedians User Group, and the Tyap Wikimedians User Group. It was funded by the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF).

The conference was the first Wikimedia national conference in Nigeria, funded by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its primary aim was to unite Wikimedia communities across Nigeria and define effective strategies for collaboration to advance the Wikimedia movement in the country. Additionally, the event focused on capacity building, knowledge sharing, networking, skill acquisition, and celebrating the collective knowledge that has been shared through Wikimedia projects over the years, as well as the contributors who have been instrumental to their success. Awards were presented to exceptional contributors to Wikimedia projects in Nigeria, as well as to at least one non-Wikimedia contributor.

Scholarships were awarded to 80 participants from 23 states across Nigeria. Initially, we planned to award scholarships to 70 participants, but this number was increased to 80. In total, 140 individuals, including partners, media representatives, and invited guests, participated in the conference. Of the 80 scholarships awarded, only 26 went to female participants. Our original goal was to have at least 40 female participants; however, we did not receive a significant number of scholarship applications from women. A committee, Scholarship Review Committee (SRC) of nine (9) members drawn from the Core Organizing Team. The scholarship committee was chaired and coordinated by Isaac Olatunde who has chaired many similar conferences including Wiki Indaba Conferences.

The scholarship application was opened from June - July 2024 and applicants were notified of the status of their application in August 2024.

Program

The Program Committee received 70 submissions, of which 45 were accepted. The program was coordinated by Tochi Precious. Through elaborate discussions and meetings with members of the program team, COT and feedback and input from the community, the committee designed the appropriate theme for the conference. They also developed the submission process and assessed the submissions based on carefully selected criteria aligned with the agreed theme. The 2024 WikiConference program featured a well-rounded mix of lectures, workshops, tutorials, panels, and roundtables. The schedule also allowed for community meetups, which participants took full advantage of.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Vince Kolatuji, National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. In his address, he highlighted the critical role of data privacy and security in the digital era.

There was an awards night as part of the conference program, which took place on Day 1. Important dignitaries from the government, civil society, and other invited guests attended the event, where notable Wikimedians were recognized for their contributions. The sudden death of Wilson Onhua was unexpected, as he had been actively involved in organizing the conference programs and had personally managed the stage for the awards ceremony. However, the situation was effectively managed by the conference organizing team, and his passing did not disrupt the conference.

The conference program faced some challenges that negatively impacted the overall delivery of the event. Time management was not effectively handled, as several sessions overlapped. This issue was compounded by the fact that the sessions were held on different floors, which created delays as participants had to move from one floor to another. The time needed for these movements was not factored into the program design.

Additionally, there were online presentations, but poor internet connectivity hindered effective participation, making it difficult to gain meaningful insights from the online sessions.

There was a dedicated sessions for how to boost contributions to local language Wikipedia in terms of quality of contents and contributors. It was acknowledged that the Nigeria Wikimedia community faces challenges in content creation, particularly for local languages and underrepresented topics. It was suggested that there is a need for awareness campaigns and strategies to engage a wider audience, including students, professionals, and institutions. Strengthening campaigns like Wiki Loves Africa and WikiGap could help raise awareness and attract more editors who are native speakers of the language.

It was emphasized that increased content, especially in local languages like Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, is crucial to address gaps in Nigeria's knowledge ecosystem. The community calls for more grassroots and public sector awareness campaigns to reach a broader audience. The lack of a clear handover process for ongoing projects was identified as an obstacle to maintaining momentum during leadership transitions, suggesting the need for structured handover guidelines.

The community identified that collaborations with academic institutions and external organizations are essential to building more robust content, with universities and cultural institutions seen as key supporters. Hands-on workshops and technical sessions could enhance learning and provide practical skills for new editors, while sharing experiences between editors of larger and smaller language Wikipedias would guide content growth.

They recommended that training workshops should focus on translation skills and content management, helping editors from smaller language Wikipedias. Preserving local languages through Wikipedia will ensure their survival and global recognition. Advocacy for local language preservation and Wikipedia access in schools can be strengthened by engaging policymakers as allies.

Inclusivity was identified as a priority, with projects needing to consider diverse groups such as women, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities. Simplifying project terminologies and workflows can encourage broader participation. A recognizable Wikimedia tag could foster a sense of belonging within the community, driving engagement.

Other Recommendations

Strengthen awareness campaigns like Wiki Loves Africa and WikiGap.
Develop structured handover guidelines for ongoing projects.
Increase collaborations with academic institutions and cultural organizations.
Organize more hands-on workshops to enhance editor skills.
Focus on training for content translation and management.
Advocate for local language preservation and Wikipedia access in schools.
Make projects more inclusive and accessible to diverse groups.
Use simple promotional strategies to boost participation.
Foster partnerships for resource mobilization, including non-monetary support.

For more information about the conference, see the final report.

World Tourism Day

The World Tourism Day was celebrated on September 27, 2024, with the theme "Tourism and Peace." Wikimedia User Group Nigeria collaborated with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation to promote cultural heritage preservation through Wikimedia projects. Capacity-building sessions and edit-a-thons were organized to encourage contributions related to the theme on Wikimedia projects. Additionally, a national article writing contest was held to engage community members and newly trained editors.

The contest ran from September 27 to October 11, 2024, resulting in the creation of 300 Wikipedia articles across the English, Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa language Wikipedias. We achieved our primary objectives of promoting cultural heritage, recruiting new editors for Wikimedia projects, and building partnerships with organizations focused on Nigerian Tourism Development.

More than 20 people participated in the training sessions, which were facilitated by experienced members of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria. The participants were primarily senior staff members of the organizations, who often make administrative decisions regarding copyrights. They received training on copyrights, Creative Commons licenses, and their applications. Additionally, they were taught how to upload images to Wikimedia Commons and how these images can be reused within and outside Wikimedia projects.

Despite these challenges, this is not the first time we have collaborated with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). Over the years, we have partnered on a range of projects, including Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Indaba 2019 in Nigeria, and the first WikiConference Nigeria in 2024. These collaborations have helped to strengthen our relationship with NTDC and further our shared commitment to promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through Wikimedia projects.

Training and edit-a-thons at Ken Saro Wiwa Foundation

On September 1, 2024, we organized a training session and edit-a-thon at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation. The edit-a-thon aimed to improve the quality of Wikipedia articles related to environmental issues. The project also sought to celebrate the life of Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, an environmentalist who was executed by the Nigerian military government for his efforts to combat environmental damage in his community. More than 20 people participated in the training, and approximately 25 Wikipedia articles were improved by the participants.

Participants included staff members of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation, environmental and climate change advocates, as well as open knowledge enthusiasts. Our primary objectives were to inprove the quality of contents relating to enviroment, recruiting new editors for Wikimedia projects, and building partnerships with mission-aligned organizations. These objectives were achived and the contributions of the participants were tracked with the Wikimedia outreach dashboard.

October 2024

Train the trainers

The Train the Trainers (South-South edition) took place on October 24–25, 2024, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This was the fourth implementation of the project in the country. A total of 23 participants from six states participated. There are 11 participants from Akwa Ibom, 5 from Rivers, 2 from Edo, and 1 each from Cross River and Delta were selected through an open call and gathered in Uyo for the training.

The sessions focused on building participants’ skills in Wikimedia projects, with an emphasis on Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. The main objective was to empower participants to return to their communities and train others. The training was simplified yet comprehensive, covering key topics and practical skills. Participants also created their first articles to test their understanding.

Facilitation was provided by members of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, including Kayode Yusuf, Ayokanmi Oyeyemi, Ashioma Medi, and Adetola Aborisade, who brought valuable insights and expertise to enhance the learning experience.

The training covered critical topics such as writing quality articles to avoid deletion, maintaining neutrality, ensuring verifiability, and meeting notability standards. Participants also learned about essential tools like Global Metrics, X Tools, and the P&E Dashboard, which are vital for improving contributions and tracking their impact.

Over 60% of the participants were community leaders who are expected to train others in their respective regions. Feedback gathered after the program showed that participants found the training highly relevant to their personal and professional growth. The event successfully achieved its goals of capacity building and knowledge sharing, further strengthening the Wikimedia community in the South-South region.