Wikimedia Nigeria User Group, a nonprofit organization that supports Wikipedia, has told Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Anambra state to contribute to the encyclopedia of knowledge by updating existing local articles on Wikipedia with factual and referential information so as to create opportunities for grants and scholarship.
The Head, Wikimedia User Group, Anambra Network, Dr Ngozi Osuchukwu stated this during a training in Awka in partnership with the Anambra State ICT Agency where Anambra CSOs were trained on digital literacy bordering on the theme “Building Tech-Forward Change makers.”
She described Wikipedia as an online version of Encyclopedia which is subject to editing and updating when an individual has the digital skill to do so after opening a Wikipedia account.
Dr Osuchukwu explained that the training will amongst other things, provide the right visibility which will in turn, create possibilities for great partnerships that will enhance the diverse developments that the Civil Society Organizations are carrying out in their various communities.
“Civil Society Organizations in Anambra are doing a lot of work in their communities but these works and their impacts are not out there. Hence our decision to partner with the State ICT Agency to ensure that we start telling our stories right like our counterparts in the western part of the country,” she said.
She noted that with Wikimedia platforms, enhanced research spirit is guaranteed and anyone can freely edit Wikipedia articles following the allowed guidelines
Dr Osuchukwu described the partnership with the state ICT Agency, as quite rewarding especially in engendering effective uptake of technology in the work they are doing.
Speaking earlier, the MD/CEO Anambra ICT Agency, Mr Fred Agbata said this partnership became possible because of his operational background as a journalist, Techpreneur and start-ups supporter, for which Wikipedia was one of the platforms that helped him then.
He stressed the need for South East to have a stronger voice on Wikipedia and encouraged the CSOs to collaborate with Anambra ICT Agency to make a difference.
“Wikimedia Nigeria User Group is a very powerful network and I am even more glad that they have an Anambra network. Leveraging the platform can do a lot of wonders in promoting brands’ visibility in unimaginable ways.
“If we do not tell our stories, nobody will. We have lots of successful people in various fields of expertise in Anambra but they are not well known. Instead, what thrives in the digital space, are few negative stories that account for less than 20 percent of things that happen in the state.
“That is why we must not allow them tell our stories.
“I hope that the participants will gain a lot of knowledge that they can use to propagate the works they are doing. One of the good things about Wikipedia is that once your platform is indexed, it puts you on the world map and I thank the Wikimedia group who are here to guide us on how best to put these articles out there
“Tech isn’t just about Lagos, other places need to be abreast with this knowledge and I hope that they are able to use this knowledge accordingly.
“We have it as a duty to jointly support Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to make Anambra a livable and prosperous state.
Key highlights of the event included tips on internet safety, content creation using AI tools as well as free editing procedures on Wikipedia to boost wealth creation.###
