Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Celebrating Nigeria's Indigenous Identity on Wikimedia (ID: 22743531)/Final Report
Application type: Standard application
Part 1: Project and impact
1. Describe the implemented activities and results achieved. Additionally, share which approaches were most effective in supporting you to achieve the results. (required)
The Wiki Naija Names project implemented a series of strategic activities aimed at preserving and promoting Nigerian indigenous names on Wikimedia platforms. The project began with mobilization and sensitization efforts, engaging linguistics academics, students, and language enthusiasts and Wikimedians passionate about Nigerian languages, culture, and heritage. This approach helped build a strong community of contributors dedicated to documenting and promoting Nigerian names. To ensure meaningful participation, 146 individuals were recruited, including 23 new editors. The experienced editors included contributors from the Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igala Wikimedia communities. Participants underwent comprehensive training sessions designed to equip them with the necessary skills to contribute effectively to Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. The training covered fundamental aspects such as account creation, content policies, general editing principles, and practical exercises in creating and improving articles, creating and updating Wikidata items, and recording pronunciation audios and uploading them to Wikimedia Commons. A core component of the project was the series of training sessions which provided participants with hands-on experience in contributing to the project’s targeted Wikimedia projects. For Wikipedia, the focus was on both minor edits such as adding citations, infoboxes, and wikilinks, and major content development. Training on Wikidata, in particular, aimed to show participants how to fill data gaps on Wikidata, allowing participants to create new items, refine existing entries, and use the Wikidata query service to track and analyze Nigerian names-related data. For Wikimedia Commons, participants were introduced to tools like Audacity and guided on how to produce high-quality pronunciation recordings of Nigerian names and also upload them on Wikimedia Commons. This effort was critical in ensuring the accurate phonetic representation of names, addressing common issues related to mispronunciations and cultural misunderstandings. To maintain engagement and motivation, the project team implemented a structured tracking system using the outreach dashboard and a Google form to monitor contributions. Weekly reimbursements were provided to 10 top contributors, according to each participant’s listed contributions on the google form, and prizes were awarded to the 4 top contributors at the end of the campaign. This incentive-driven approach proved effective in sustaining enthusiasm and encouraging continuous participation. As a result of these combined efforts, the Wiki Naija Names project achieved remarkable outcomes. The number of Wikipedia articles related to Nigerian names increased from 23 to 336, significantly improving the representation of indigenous names online. Notable growth was recorded in the coverage of surnames and given names across different Nigerian languages. For example, Yoruba given names grew from 87 to 239, Hausa given names increased from 1 to 28, and Igbo given names expanded from 12 to 79. In addition, 425 new Wikidata items were created, enriching the database with structured information about Nigerian names. A major highlight of the project was the successful upload of 1,037 pronunciation audios to Wikimedia Commons, ensuring that the correct pronunciation of Nigerian names is accessible to a global audience. The success of the project can be attributed to several key approaches. The comprehensive training sessions provided participants with the skills and confidence needed to contribute effectively. Community engagement played a vital role, as recruiting participants and incentives and recognition helped sustain participation, while strategic partnerships amplified the project's impact. Hands-on demonstrations, particularly in audio recording, ensured that participants could independently produce high-quality content.
2. Documentation of your impact. Please use space below to share links that help tell your story, impact, and evaluation. (required)
Share links to:
- Project page on Meta-Wiki or any other Wikimedia project
- Dashboards and tools that you used to track contributions
- Some photos or videos from your event. Remember to share access.
You can also share links to:
- Important social media posts
- Surveys and their results
- Infographics and sound files
- Examples of content edited on Wikimedia projects
Kindly find all links in this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hub-gmQ_bhBlGYNXdFzUCAH4ELhe9NAGCyjjC6HOmEI/edit?usp=drivesdk
Additionally, share the materials and resources that you used in the implementation of your project. (required)
For example:
- Training materials and guides
- Presentations and slides
- Work processes and plans
- Any other materials your team has created or adapted and can be shared with others
Kindly find all materials and resources in this drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QyFkhGeSBitCDV7Jes1kcOm-AdXvURSG
3. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with this Rapid Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals. Required. Select one option per question. (required)
| A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups | Agree |
| B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community | Strongly agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Strongly agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Agree |
| E. Encourage the retention of editors | Agree |
| F. Encourage the retention of organizers | Agree |
| G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement | Agree |
| F. Other (optional) |
Part 2: Learning
4. In your application, you outlined some learning questions. What did you learn from these learning questions when you implemented your project? How do you hope to use this learnings in the future? You can recall these learning questions below. (required)
You can recall these learning questions below: The main questions that we hope to have answered after completing the project are: What is the history and cultural significance of Nigerian names? How can the inclusion of Nigerian names on Wikimedia platforms promote cultural diversity and understanding? What challenges have been encountered by participants in promoting Nigerian names on Wikimedia platforms, and how have they been addressed? What impact has the project had on the visibility and usage of Nigerian names on Wikimedia platforms? How many articles of Nigerian names have been created or improved on Wikipedia? How many items of Nigerian names have been created or improved on Wikidata? How many audio recordings of Nigerian names have been recorded and uploaded on Wikicommons? What further steps can be taken to promote the inclusion of Nigerian names and other underrepresented cultures on Wikimedia platforms?
Through the implementation of the Wiki Naija Names project, we gained valuable insights into the history, significance, and representation of Nigerian names on Wikimedia platforms. Our research and contributions highlighted how Nigerian names carry deep cultural meanings, often rooted in historical, religious, and philosophical contexts. These names serve as markers of identity, lineage, and values, reinforcing the importance of their accurate documentation and preservation.
One of the key lessons learned was how the inclusion of Nigerian names on Wikimedia platforms promotes cultural diversity and understanding. By expanding the number of Wikipedia articles, Wikidata items, and pronunciation audios, the project helped bridge knowledge gaps and dispel misconceptions about Nigerian names. This inclusion ensures that individuals from diverse backgrounds can access verified information, fostering greater appreciation and respect for Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.
The project also shed light on the challenges participants faced in promoting Nigerian names. A major obstacle was the lack of reliable sources documenting indigenous names, which led to referencing issues and the need for extensive content verification. To address this, the team paused contributions for two weeks to correct errors and collaborated with Wikipedia administrators to ensure higher content quality. Another challenge was training new editors, which required ongoing support and mentorship to build their confidence and expertise in Wikimedia editing.
Assessing the project's impact, we observed a significant improvement in the visibility and usage of Nigerian names on Wikimedia platforms. Before the campaign, only 23 Wikipedia articles existed on Nigerian names, but this number grew to 336 by the end of the project. Additionally, 425 Wikidata items were created, and 1,037 pronunciation audios were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, making Nigerian names more accessible and accurately represented online.
In reflecting on the next steps, we recognize that more efforts are needed to sustain and expand the project’s impact. Future initiatives could include developing more structured resources, such as a centralized repository of reliable references for Nigerian names. Also, fostering stronger partnerships with linguistics experts and cultural institutions can help improve documentation efforts. Encouraging long-term engagement within Wikimedia communities and integrating more interactive elements such as pronunciation workshops and name storytelling events, could further enrich contributions.
5. Did anything unexpected or surprising happen when implementing your activities? This can include both positive and negative situations. What did you learn from those experiences? (required)
During the implementation of the Wiki Naija Names project, we encountered both unexpected challenges and positive surprises. One of the biggest challenges was the severe lack of reliable references documenting Nigerian indigenous names. While we anticipated some difficulties, it was surprising to realize just how scarce well-documented sources were, even for the three major indigenous languages—Yorùbá, Igbo, and Hausa. If these widely spoken languages faced such a significant documentation gap, the situation is likely even more dire for Nigeria’s other indigenous languages, particularly those from smaller ethnic groups.
Another unexpected realization was the limited linguistic coverage of the project. Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, yet we were only able to focus on four languages: Yorùbá, Igbo, Hausa, and Igala. Even within these, Igala had minimal coverage due to resource constraints. This highlighted the immense scope of work that remains in ensuring proper representation of Nigeria’s diverse linguistic heritage. Moving forward, the next best step would be to collaborate with linguists, language and culture enthusiasts, writers, and journalists to properly document these names and establish reliable sources that can be referenced in Wikimedia projects.
On the positive side, despite these challenges, we were able to exceed our original targets across all Wikimedia projects. For Wikipedia, our target was to create or improve 100 articles, but we created 251 articles. For Wikidata, we aimed for 60 items, yet we created 425 items. On Wikimedia Commons, our goal was 100 pronunciation recordings, but we uploaded an impressive 1,037 audios. These achievements demonstrate the dedication of the participants and the impact of the project, proving that even with obstacles, meaningful contributions to knowledge preservation can be made.
6. What is your plan to share your project learnings and results with other community members? If you have already done it, describe how. (required)
We have published a number of posts on Wikimedia Diff to document and share the initiative and our efforts with the entire Wikimedia community. This project is also well documented on its Event Meta page. You can find all the links here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hub-gmQ_bhBlGYNXdFzUCAH4ELhe9NAGCyjjC6HOmEI/edit?usp=drivesdk
Part 3: Metrics
7. Wikimedia Metrics results. (required)
In your application, you set some Wikimedia targets in numbers (Wikimedia metrics). In this section, you will describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used.
| Target | Results | Comments and tools used | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 70 | 146 | Outreach dashboard |
| Number of editors | 50 | 123 | Outreach dashboard |
| Number of organizers | 10 | 23 |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 100 | 251 | 251 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 100 | 1037 | 1037 |
| Wikidata | 60 | 425 | 425 |
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | |||
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| Translatewiki | |||
| MediaWiki | |||
| Wikiquote | |||
| Wikivoyage | |||
| Wikibooks | |||
| Wikiversity | |||
| Wikinews | |||
| Wikispecies | |||
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
8. Other Metrics results.
In your proposal, you could also set Other Metrics targets. Please describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used if you set Other Metrics in your application.
| Other Metrics name | Metrics Description | Target | Result | Tools and comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9. Did you have any difficulties collecting data to measure your results? (required)
No
9.1. Please state what difficulties you had. How do you hope to overcome these challenges in the future? Do you have any recommendations for the Foundation to support you in addressing these challenges? (required)
Part 4: Financial reporting
[edit]10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)
3040003
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
1879
12. Report the funds spent in the currency of your fund. (required)
Provide the link to the financial report https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UYTV2DmZ-mTE4qeh4INLcBVm0M39r471V5j3p3LWSWI/edit?usp=drivesdk
12.2. If you have not already done so in your financial spending report, please provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal. (optional)
13. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?
No
13.1. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
N/A
13.2. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?
N/A
13.3. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.
N/A
14.1. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement?
Yes
14.2. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?
Yes
14.3. Are you in compliance with provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement? In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the WMF mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.
Yes
15. If you have additional recommendations or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here. (optional)
Review notes
[edit]Review notes from Program Officer:
N/A
Applicant's response to the review feedback.
N/A