Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki Historical Documentations and Advancing Wikimedia In Sokoto Thought a Follow up to Our Previous Initiative (ID: 23456817)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Mahuta
- 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)
N/A
- Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)
Main Proposal
[edit]- 1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.
Wiki Historical Documentations and Advancing Wikimedia In Sokoto Thought a Follow up to Our Previous Initiative
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-09-01 - 2025-11-20
- 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)
Not applicable
- 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)
Sokoto is one of the most historic and culturally rich states in Nigeria. It was once the seat of the Sokoto Caliphate and remains an important center of Islamic learning, Hausa tradition, and Northern Nigerian heritage. Despite its significance, Sokoto remains underrepresented on Wikimedia projects. There are very few photos of its landmarks on Wikimedia Commons, and many articles related to Sokoto on Wikipedia and Wikidata are missing, incomplete, or outdated.
We want to change that.
Our goal is to document and showcase Sokoto’s history and culture through Wikimedia projects, especially by:
- Uploading quality photos of important sites to Wikimedia Commons,
- Creating and improving Wikipedia articles,
- Generating new Wikidata items,
- Enriching travel information on Wikivoyage,
- And training local people to contribute to Wikimedia projects.
This project idea started after Abubakar Kaddi, a local Wikimedian based in Sokoto, organized a mini Wikimedia awareness event at Usmanu Danfodiyo University. The feedback from participants was very positive. Many students and young people wanted to learn more and get involved. Abubakar reached out to me to collaborate and help take this interest to the next level. Together, we decided to design a bigger project that combines photo documentation and hands-on Wikimedia training and awareness.
Challenges we are addressing include:
- Lack of photo documentation of important places in Sokoto on Wikimedia Commons
- Low awareness of Wikimedia and free knowledge projects in the region
- Limited participation of Sokoto residents in contributing to Wikipedia, Wikidata, and other Wikimedia projects
Planned photo documentation sites This is followed by five photowalk days where the team will tour selected sites across the state to captures include:
- The Sultan’s Palace
- Sokoto Museum
- Waziri Junaidu History and Culture Bureau
- Uthman Dan Fodio Tomb
- Sokoto Central Mosque
- Shehu Shagari College of Education
- Gidan Dan Hausa
- Argungu Road and Sokoto City Gates
- Main markets, parks, educational institutions, and traditional areas
After the documentation, we will host a two-days Wikimedia training and awareness event that targets students, youth, and photography or culture enthusiasts. The event will provide practical sessions on how to edit Wikipedia, upload media files, contribute to Wikidata, and improve Wiktionary content.
This project is important not only for improving online content about Sokoto but also for empowering local people to tell their own stories, preserve their heritage, and become part of the global open knowledge movement.
- 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.
This project is designed around two major components, photo documentation of historical and public places in Sokoto, and Wikimedia awareness and training for new and potential contributors in the region.
Main planned activities: 1. Planning and Mobilization
- Community notification and announcement of the project on relevant Wikimedia projects
- Coordination with local contact Abubakar Kaddi (a Wikimedian based in Sokoto) for local logistics, permissions, and safety
- Engagement with potential participants, particularly university students and youth groups in Sokoto
2. Photo Documentation Tour
- Field visit to identified heritage and public sites across Sokoto city and nearby areas
- Capture high-quality images of selected places
- Documentation of site details for Wikidata and Wikipedia updates
Planned photo documentation sites, This is followed by five photowalk days where the team will tour selected sites across the state to capture the landscapes include:
- The Sultan’s Palace
- Sokoto Museum
- Waziri Junaidu History and Culture Bureau
- Uthman Dan Fodio Tomb
- Sokoto Central Mosque
- Shehu Shagari College of Education
- Gidan Dan Hausa
- Old city gates and traditional architecture
- Major markets and city landmarks
3. Uploading and Contribution
- Upload all photographs to Wikimedia Commons under appropriate categories and licenses
- Create and improve related articles on Wikipedia
- Add or update Wikidata items for documented locations
- Enhance Wikivoyage content related to travel and tourism in Sokoto
4. Wikimedia Awareness and Training Workshop
- Two days physical event in Sokoto
- Introduction to Wikimedia projects: Wikipedia, Commons, Wikidata, and Wikivoyage
- Practical hands-on sessions on how to edit, upload, and contribute
- Distribution of certificates and participant onboarding support
5. Post-Event Follow-up and Reporting
- One-on-one mentorship of new editors through online channels mostly WhatsApp group
- Submission of final grant report and metrics tracking via the Outreach Dashboard
- Publishing a learning report or Diff blog post
Partnerships and Support
- We are collaborating with Abubakar Kaddi, a local Wikimedian in Sokoto, who will assist with venue arrangements, participant outreach, and documentation.
- We may also seek informal partnerships with departments at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, especially those focused on history, education, and ICT, to attract participants and secure space for the training session.
- 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 project team is made up of experienced Hausa Wikimedians and local volunteers who are passionate about promoting free knowledge in Northern Nigeria. Each team member brings their own unique skills and experiences that are essential to the success of this project.
- User:Mahuta – Project Lead
User:Mahuta is a seasoned Wikimedian with years of experience leading Wikimedia projects across Hausa Wikipedia, Wikidata, and other sister projects. He has successfully implemented several Wikimedia Foundation-funded projects. As the project lead, he will:
- Oversee the entire project from start to finish
- Manage the grant funds and ensure financial accountability
- Coordinate activities and communication among the team
- Supervise the implementation and timely reporting of the project
- User:Abubakar Kaddi – Local Coordinator and Facilitator (Sokoto)
User:Abubakar Kaddi is an active Wikimedian based in Sokoto. He has previously organized a Wikimedia awareness session at Usmanu Danfodiyo University. For this project, he will:
- Coordinate logistics in Sokoto including permissions and local support
- Identify and guide the team through key locations for photo documentation
- Mobilize participants from Sokoto and surrounding areas
- Support as a facilitator during the training workshop
- User:Gwanki – Facilitator and Trainer
User:Gwanki (Abubakar Ali) is an administrator on Hausa Wikipedia and an experienced project lead in several Wikimedia campaigns. He will:
- Serve as a key trainer during the Wikimedia workshop
- Support the photo documentation process and content verification
- Guide new participants on contributing to Wikipedia, Wikidata, Commons, and Wikivoyage
- User:Hamza DK – Facilitator and Documentation Support
User:Hamza DK is an active contributor to Hausa Wikipedia. He has supported many Wikimedia activities and brings in useful communication and technical skills. He will:
- Assist participants during the practical editing sessions
- Help in uploading and organizing photo content on Wikimedia Commons
- Take behind-the-scenes pictures and notes to support reporting
- User:Smshika – Facilitator and New Editor Support
User:Smshika is known for mentoring new editors and has served as a co-facilitator in previous Wikimedia projects. In this project, he will:
- Provide guidance to new editors during the training
- Monitor and support their contributions after the event
- Help manage the Outreach Dashboard and communication channels.
And the group also consists of two professional photographers, both from Sokoto State. All team members are contributing to this project as volunteers.
- 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)
Our target participants are students, youth, and professionals from Sokoto and surrounding areas, especially those interested in history, technology, and free knowledge. We will engage them before the event through social media, university outreach, and flyers. A WhatsApp group will be created for orientation and communication. During the event, we will provide hands-on training and mentorship. After the event, we will follow up via the group, assign editing tasks, and monitor contributions through the Dashboard to ensure continued engagement and participation in future Wikimedia activities.
- 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.
The project idea was initiated through a conversation with User:Abubakar Kaddi, an active Wikimedian based in Sokoto, who previously organized a mini Wikimedia event at Usmanu Danfodiyo University. Following the success of that event, many participants and local contacts expressed interest in deeper Wikimedia engagement. We discussed the project with members of the Hausa Wikimedia Community [1] and calls. Team members like User:Mahuta, User:Gwanki, and User:Smshika shared input to shape the activities. The proposal aligns with ongoing community outreach efforts in Northern 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)
Geography
- 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)
Ethnic/racial/religious or cultural background
- 15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)
Improve User Experience
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
Through this project, we hope to learn several key things that will inform future Wikimedia activities in underrepresented regions like Sokoto.
First, we want to understand the level of awareness and interest in Wikimedia projects among young people and students in Sokoto. Although Sokoto is a historical city with deep cultural roots, there has been little Wikimedia engagement, so we want to assess how well participants relate to concepts like open knowledge, free licensing, and digital contribution.
Second, we hope to learn the most effective approaches for introducing Wikimedia to a new audience with little prior exposure. We aim to test different methods—such as visual training, real-time editing support, and hands-on photo documentation—to see what engages participants best.
Third, through our photo documentation of notable places in Sokoto, we want to learn how well such visual content can help enrich Wikimedia projects like Commons, Wikidata, Wikipedia, and Wikivoyage. This will help us determine the quality, relevance, and value of local content contributions.
We also want to assess the effectiveness of post-event follow-up mechanisms, including WhatsApp mentoring groups, task assignments, and peer support, to build lasting engagement. Learning how many participants remain active after the project will help us design better sustainability strategies.
Finally, we aim to understand how local ownership and leadership—such as having a Wikimedian from Sokoto like Abubakar Kaddi co-lead the project—can impact trust, participation, and outcomes. If successful, this could be a model for growing Wikimedia communities in other underrepresented regions.
All these learnings will help us shape more community-centered, localized, and sustainable Wikimedia initiatives in the future.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 50 | Total number of Participants |
| Number of editors | 45 | Total number of editors |
| Number of organizers | 5 | Total number of organizers |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 1000 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 200 |
| Wikidata | 100 |
| Wiktionary | 50 |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
N/A
- 19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)
No
| 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)
I will use Wikimedia Foundation's Dashboard Tool
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
Budget[2]
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
3000664 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.
1954.13 USD
- We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.
Yes
Endorsements and Feedback
[edit]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).