Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Say-It-Right event in Nigeria (ID: 23551280)

This is an automatically generated Meta-Wiki page. The page was copied from Fluxx, the web service of Wikimedia Foundation Funds, where the user has submitted their application. Please do not make any changes to this page because all changes will be removed after the next update. Use the discussion page for your feedback. The page was created by CR-FluxxBot.

Applicant Details

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Dokimazo99

Organization

N/A

If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)

I'm a staff member or contractor in a Wikimedia Affiliate, group, or allied organization.

Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)

I volunteer as the Programs officer of the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group. And I have previously served as the President of Yoruba Wiki Fan-club, Unilag. I currently serve as the Wikipedian-in-Residence at the International Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture, Ibadan, for the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group.

Main Proposal

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Say-It-Right event in Nigeria

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2025-10-31 - 2025-12-31

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Nigeria

5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)

Other (please specify) Wikisound Audio Speaks Campaign

6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)

Research has consistently shown the importance of correct pronunciation of names and other naming nouns in Africa , highlighting its role in promoting accurate communication, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering language learning. Names carry identity, dignity, and history and yet, African names are often mispronounced or misrepresented. This extends to Wikimedia projects, where thousands of articles still lack audio features to guide readers. Although Wikipedia already has an audio function, it is underutilized, limiting its potential to support language learning, inclusivity, and accessibility.

The say it right event is aimed at bringing change in the way knowledge is shared and accessed on Wikimedia projects, particularly Wikipedia. At present, many articles, especially those related to Nigerian people, places, and cultural terms, lack audio files that capture the correct pronunciation of names. This has led to widespread mispronunciation, which not only disrupts the learning experience but also diminishes the cultural and personal identity tied to these names. Names carry meaning, respect, and heritage, and when they are mispronounced, part of that identity is lost. Through this campaign, we are working to shift Wikimedia from being a text-only resource to becoming a knowledge hub enriched with authentic voices and improving Africa visibility through correct pronunciation like names of people,places, Animals, Rivers, chiefs,Monuments, incantations, e.t.c. By recording and uploading correct pronunciations in these three languages-Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, the project aim to make Wikipedia a reliable references for pronunciation. This ensures that readers, researchers, and educators worldwide have easy access to accurate audio guides that help them respect the names and identities of the people and cultures they encounter. The change we are driving is not just about adding sound files; it is about empowering language communities to preserve and share their voices. It is about bridging the gap between written knowledge and spoken accuracy, ensuring that Wikimedia platforms reflect the richness and diversity of human language. Its first event, to be held in Nigeria and later expanded to other African countries. This project aims to increase the visibility and use of audio across Wikimedia projects, especially the most visited site for education. (Wikipedia) With Nigeria’s vast linguistic diversity and large population of speakers of major African languages, it provides the ideal starting point. We will initially focus on three of the most widely spoken Nigerian languages,Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, as research (Languages of Nigeria) confirms their prominence and the high demand for audio representation across their many Wikipedia articles. This targeted approach will help us streamline the event, ensuring strong participation and maximum impact. Community partnership is central to our approach. We will collaborate with the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa language community to guarantee linguistic authenticity and to mobilize broader participation. Native speakers from these groups will provide accurate pronunciations, while technical experts ensure the quality and usability of the audio files. This dual approach guarantees both authenticity and functionality Furthermore, this project is also focused on achieving the Wikimedia 2030 movement strategy of preserving voices, strengthening cultural identity, improving accessibility, and ensuring that the richness of human language is represented and respected globally. By supporting this project, the Wikimedia Foundation will be taking a bold step toward its 2030 Movement Strategy, elevating Wikimedia projects to new milestones where sound is an is an integral part of free knowledge sharing.

7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.

Create Awareness: We plan to raise awareness through both online and offline channels to ensure wide reach and meaningful engagement. On social media, we will make use of digital materials such as flyers, short videos, and informative posts to capture attention, stimulate interest, and encourage participation. For offline outreach, we will conduct public talks and interactive sessions designed to engage participants through one-on-one conversations and informal group discussions. We will also collaborate with language communities in Nigeria, through representatives from the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa Wikimedia groups. These awareness efforts will be strategically targeted to attract language enthusiasts, native speakers, and professionals interested in supporting linguistic and cultural preservation.

Virtual Sessions: The campaign will include two virtual sessions. The first will serve as an introductory session for participants and contributors. It will feature a presentation by the project lead to highlight the importance of audio representation and explain the goals and significance of the project within the Wikimedia ecosystem. Also on the first day will be a representative from one of the participating language communities, to give insights on the cultural importance of accurate pronunciation and the role this campaign plays in preserving linguistic identity. The second session will be held at the end of the campaign as an evaluation and reflection forum. During this session, participants will provide feedback, helping us assess the overall impact, successes, and areas for improvement in future campaigns.

Physical Training: For the Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo languages, each community will conduct a two in-person training sessions for each language community , spread across two days. The first day will focus on hands-on training where participants will learn to create audio files using Lingua Libre, Audacity, and software. They will be trained on how to convert audio into Wikimedia-compatible formats, .ogg file before uploading them to Wikimedia Commons. This training will also cover the process of linking the audio files to corresponding Wikipedia articles. The second day will be dedicated to an edit-a-thon, where participants will put their new skills into practice by uploading and integrating audio files into Wikipedia articles. This approach ensures that participants not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical, hands-on experience. Each community training and representative will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of audio recordings. Their role is to make sure that nouns in their respective languages are correctly documented and pronounced during the course of the recordings, thereby preserving linguistic authenticity and reliability on Wikipedia.

Contest: To sustain engagement and celebrate contributions, the campaign will conclude with an online contest open to all participants. Prizes will be awarded within each of the three participating language communities (Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa). Specifically, recognition will be given to the top three contributors as well as the most outstanding new editor in each community. This contest is designed not only to reward individual efforts but also to foster engagement across communities, motivate sustained participation, and ensure long-term engagement in audio-related activities beyond the campaign.

8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.

The team involved in this project includes prolific editors from our indigenous language community, who are also coordinators, from Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo communities. They will ensure proper training and monitoring of the training in their various communities. these team members include:

1. Dokimazo99: (Project lead & Yoruba language facilitator) I am a Yoruba with over 500 articles on Yoruba Wikipedia. I serves as the Programs Officer and Wikipedian-in-Residence for the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group at the International Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture. She was the 2023 Wikimedia User Group Nigeria's Best Indigenous Language Contributor of the Year. Additionally, her leadership skill as the 2022-2023 President for the Yoruba Wiki Fan-club Unilag and Wikipedian-in-Residence for the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group, showcases her commitment to promoting and preserving the Yoruba language. i have a proven track record of spearheading successful projects, such as the "Wikipedia Training: University of Lagos First Semester," where she diligently trained and guided participants in the art of editing and translating articles on Yoruba Wikipedia. She has facilitated and co-facilitated several projects in the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group such as; Deoband Yoruba Collaborative Project, Training students at the University of Lagos, Recruit Readers as Writer, exploring Yoruba literary traditions, Yoruba Wikipedia training at the International Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture, University of Ibadan,Yoruba Wikipedia Training at Fountain University amongst others. I have also trained and recruited over 100 editors to the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group, to contribute to Wikipedia in their local language. I will be leading this even through training sessions, provide guidance and mentorship throughout the edit-a-thon, and oversee the growth of the community we build through this campaign. Furthermore, I will share information about the say right future events to foster continued participation in the Wikimedia space. I will also be the one to super head the Yoruba community training with other representative from the Yoruba community.

2. Jessephu (Co-facilitator and Jury He currently serves as the President of the Unilorin Wikimedia Fan Club (2025–2026) and previously held the position of General Secretary (2024–2025). He is an experienced Wikiquote editor and trainer who has actively participated in and won major campaigns, including the She Said 2022 campaign, which focused on women in education. In 2024, he also served as a co-facilitator and jury member for the She Said event in Nigeria. For this project, he will co-facilitate the training sessions, provide support to participants during the Edit-a-thon, and manage communications and logistics for both the team and attendees. His strong background in article review, event organization, and mentoring new editors, coupled with his experience as a jury member, makes him well-suited to ensure the smooth execution of this event. Additionally, his contributions to campaigns such as Wikipedia Pages Wanting Audios 2023 and Say It Right: Wikipedia as a Tool for Correct Pronunciation of Names highlight his versatility and commitment to Wikimedia projects. With this wealth of experience, he brings both organizational and editorial expertise to make the event successful and impactful.

Gwanki: (Hausa language facilitator) is a seasoned Wikimedia contributor and Hausa Wikipedia administrator. Active in the Wikimedia community since 2013, he has made more than 50,000 edits across various Wikimedia projects. Gwanki has extensive experience facilitating Wikimedia projects, particularly in Northern Nigeria, with a focus on community building, capacity development, and promoting contributions to indigenous language Wikipedia. He has successfully organized and participated in numerous Wikimedia initiatives, including awareness campaigns, edit-a-thons, and training programs, and is an award-winning contributor, recognized as the Best Indigenous Language Contributor 2024 by the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria. His expertise spans Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikivoyage, and oral history documentation, making him a valuable asset for any Wikimedia project. Gwanki is known for his dedication to free knowledge, his ability to engage diverse communities, and his effective project facilitation skills.

Adimora Chidinma (Igbo language facilitator): She is an experienced editor with extensive project facilitation and training experience, having accumulated over 61,000 contributions and still counting. She has won various edit-a-thons across various global campaigns such as SheSaid 2024 event in Nigeria, Wiki Science contest 2023, Feminism and Folklore, and Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos. She has promoted gender equity across various Wikimedia projects and as a co-facilitator and trainer for this project, she will be training the Igbo community on translation and also ensuring that the contributions by the community are quality contributions.

9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)

The target participants for the Say it Right event are language enthusiasts, Wikimedia language editors, native speakers of the these languages, as well as members of Wikimedia language communities who are interested in bridging the gap in audio representation for both new and old editors. This diverse group has been carefully identified because they bring both the passion and expertise necessary to make the campaign impactful. Language enthusiasts and editors already possess experience in contributing to Wikimedia projects, which will enable them to adapt quickly to integrating audio content. Native speakers, on the other hand, are invaluable for ensuring accuracy and authenticity in pronunciation, particularly for nouns, personal names, and culturally significant terms that may otherwise be misrepresented. By engaging individuals directly from language communities, the campaign taps into a reservoir of knowledge and oral traditions that are central to the correct use and understanding of language. These participants are not only familiar with the linguistic nuances of their mother tongue but also deeply rooted in the cultural contexts that shape pronunciation and meaning. Their involvement will guarantee that the audio contributions uploaded to Wikimedia Commons reflect genuine linguistic practice rather than approximations. members of Wikimedia’s language communities often have prior experience in documenting minority and indigenous languages. Their participation will therefore strengthen the campaign’s goal of bridging audio gaps across Wikimedia projects, ensuring that underrepresented languages are preserved through sound. This focus on linguistic authenticity, combined with technical training, will empower participants to create high-quality audio files that enhance the user experience on Wikipedia.

Before the Activities: We will run a multi-faceted awareness campaign using E-posters, fliers, and banner campaigns on Wikimedia sites, distributed across platforms frequented by our target participants. Through dedicated social media accounts and groups, we will regularly post updates, share success stories, and engage with potential participants. Establishing a WhatsApp group for interested individuals will facilitate efficient information dissemination and foster a sense of community before the event. Collaborating with the three-language community will help us reach a broader audience and mobilize participants through their networks.

During the Activities :Hands-on training sessions will be conducted by experienced volunteer facilitators using projectors, slides, and other teaching aids to ensure participants are actively engaged and learning effectively. Providing real-time guidance and support during edit-a-thons and other activities will ensure participants can apply their knowledge and skills effectively. Facilitating interactive discussions and sharing success stories from young Wikimedians will inspire and motivate participants. Recognizing participants' efforts through awards and certificates will help maintain their interest and motivation in contributing to Wikimedia projects.

After the Activities: We will conduct online follow-up training sessions to continue skill development and ensure sustained engagement. Establishing an online community (e.g., through WhatsApp) will allow participants to continue receiving support, ask questions, and share their progress. Collecting feedback from participants will help us assess the impact of the activities and identify areas for improvement, tailoring future training sessions and support.. The project will significantly increase audios visibility on Wikipedia thereby enhancing language diversity and quality, especially in underrepresented languages like Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. By promoting digital literacy and community engagement, it will empower people to actively participate in creating and sharing open knowledge. Ongoing support and recognition will ensure sustained involvement, fostering a vibrant Wikimedia community in Nigeria and advancing the mission of open knowledge for all.

10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)

No

10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.

N/A

11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.

We have posted the announcement of the proposal on the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria's talk page. This platform enabled community members to review the project, provide comments, and suggest improvements.

Link to the discussion https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria#Say_it_right_event_in_Nigeria

12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Language

13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)

Culture, heritage or GLAM

14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Linguistic / Language

15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)

Innovate in Free Knowledge

Learning and metrics

17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

1.Effective Engagement Strategies: We hope to learn the most effective methods and strategies for engaging people and language community in contributing to Wikimedia projects, ensuring sustained participation and community building.

2.Challenges and Solutions: Identifying common challenges faced by new and existing contributors, and developing tailored solutions to address these issues, will be a key learning outcome to enhance future training and support programs.

3.Impact of Digital Literacy Initiatives:Understanding the impact of our digital literacy initiatives on participants' ability to contribute high-quality content to Wikimedia projects will help us refine our educational approaches and materials.

4.Community Insights: Gaining insights into how local communities interact and collaborate within the Wikimedia ecosystem will provide valuable knowledge for fostering stronger, more cohesive community networks.

5.Long-Term Sustainability: Learning how to create and maintain long-term interest and motivation among participants through continuous support, recognition, and incentives will be crucial for the project's success.

6. inclusiveness : learn how wikipedia can be a means for for free knwoledge throuh audio representation.

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	90	30 participants each from the 3 participating wiki communities New Editors : 10 Existing Editors :20
Number of editors	90	30 participants each from the 3 participating wiki communities New Editors : 10 Existing Editors :20
Number of organizers	4	One project lead, two local organizers, and 1 co-facilitator.

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	300
Wikimedia Commons	300
Wikidata
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia

Optional description for content contributions.

Each community will improve 100 Wikipedia articles by matching the saved audio recordings uploaded on Wikimedia Commons(100) per community with their corresponding Wikipedia pages, thereby enriching the articles with accurate pronunciations.

19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)

No

Main Open Metrics Data
Main Open Metrics	Description	Target
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A

20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)

1.Outreach Dashboard: Tracks: Edits, new articles, and participation rates. Use: Monitor engagement and productivity during events.

2.Global Contribution Tracking Tracks: Total contributions across Wikimedia platforms. Use: Assess the broader impact of participants’ contributions.

3.#Sayitright Hashtag: Tracks: Edits and content improvements tagged with the hashtag. Use: Participants will use this hashtag in their edit summaries, allowing us to Identify and quantify contributions related to the project.

These tools will provide a comprehensive measurement of our project's impact.

Financial proposal

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BROouJbfQAh5BOwyiWIGKeHaTS2l3_0i3pkon7jE4XU/edit?gid=0#gid=0

22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

3294752.5 NGN

22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.

2142.87 USD

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback

Please add endorsements and feedback to the grant discussion page only. Endorsements added here will be removed automatically.

Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:

Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).

Endorse