Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki Loves Africa 2026 Nigeria Rites and Rituals by EduWiki Nigeria and Wiki for Minority Nigeria (ID: 23633429)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
inyor4mr
- 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 Loves Africa 2026 Nigeria Rites and Rituals by EduWiki Nigeria and Wiki for Minority Nigeria
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2026-02-15 - 2026-05-30
- 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)
Wiki Loves Africa
- 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)
This project aims to address the significant underrepresentation of Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage, specifically the “Rites and Rituals” of its many ethnic groups, on Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia. Many of these practices are poorly documented in digital, free-knowledge spaces, leading to a loss of cultural memory and a narrow understanding of Nigerian culture. Key Challenges: Content Gap: A vast visual and audio documentation gap exists for the intricate rites and rituals (e.g., coronations, naming ceremonies, initiations, festivals) of Nigerian communities, especially minority groups. Concentration of Contributors: Wikimedia activities in Nigeria are often centered in major cities and ethnic groups, missing the rich cultural practices in rural and minority communities and ethnic groups. Lack of Skills: Potential contributors in these communities often lack the technical skills to capture high-quality media and upload them to Wikimedia Commons under free licenses - due to underrepresentation in the Wikimedia space. Our Change: We will bridge this gap by mobilizing a focused group campaign during Wiki Loves Africa 2026. By combining the educational network of EduWiki Nigeria with the community-focused outreach of Wiki for Minority Nigeria, we will: Amplify Local Narratives: Empower community members to document their own cultural practices, ensuring authentic and respectful representation. Build Local Capacity: Train photographers, students, and cultural enthusiasts on ethical documentation and Wikimedia Commons upload processes. Enrich Global Knowledge: Contribute a substantial collection of high-quality, freely licensed media that illustrates Nigeria's “Rites and Rituals” for global use.
- 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.
1.Virtual Launch & Training Series (February-March 2026): A series of online webinars to introduce the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 contest, the theme “Rites and Rituals,” and the rules of participation. Training sessions on photography/videography tips, ethical cultural documentation, and step-by-step guides on uploading to Wikimedia Commons. Why: This ensures a wide reach across the focused-group and equips participants with the necessary skills before the contest begins. Hybrid Edit-a-thons and Upload Support Hubs (March-April 2026): Organize physical edit-a-thons in at least three strategic locations (e.g., Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt) to provide hands-on upload support. Run a continuous virtual support hub via WhatsApp and Telegram for participants across the country to get help with uploads and questions. Why: The physical events foster community and help newcomers, while the virtual hub ensures inclusivity and nationwide participation. Targeted Community Outreach/Photowalk with Wiki for Minority Nigeria and EduWiki Nigeria: Partner with cultural associations and community leaders from minority ethnic groups to encourage documentation of their unique rites and rituals. Provide dedicated support to contributors from these communities. Why: This strategic partnership directly addresses the knowledge equity gap for minority cultures in Nigeria. Post-Contest Review and Impact Showcase (May 2026): A jury will review the top submissions based on quality and cultural significance. Host an online winners' announcement ceremony to celebrate contributors. Create a gallery on our project page showcasing the best images and their usage on Wikipedia. Why: Recognition motivates participants and demonstrates the project's impact, encouraging sustained involvement.
- 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.
Ramatu Haliru (Project Lead): Coordinator for EduWiki Nigeria. Oversees project strategy, partnerships, and budget. She is a wikimedia that has promoted open knowledge through various campaigns such as Africa Wiki Challenge in the Hausa Community, the Wiki For Human Rights in Nigeria, and the Community coordinator 2024/2025.
Jane Achukwu (Community Lead): Wiki for Minority Nigeria. Leads outreach to minority communities and cultural liaisons. Onyinye Jane Achukwu is an educator with over 14 years of experience. Onyinye is a practicing science teacher employed by the Post Primary School Service Commission, Awka, Anambra State. She also volunteered with the Igbo Wikimedians User Group from 2019 to 2022, coordinating the Anambra State Hub in Nigeria. Onyinye is dedicated to helping women and youth without formal education gain skills to improve their employability or enable them to start their own businesses, enhancing their livelihoods and generating employment. She facilitates trainings and contributes to the Wikimedia Foundation through Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Commons, and Wikidata.
Oby Ezeilo and Lucy Iwuala (Trainer & Communications): Manages virtual training sessions, social media promotion, and participant communication.
Chinonso and Timzy (Jury Coordinator): Leads the post-contest media review process and winner selection.
Partnership with Wiki Loves Africa International Team: For overall campaign guidance, resources, and global promotion.
- 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)
Target Participants: Photography enthusiasts, university students (via EduWiki network), members of minority ethnic communities (via Wiki for Minority Nigeria network), and cultural documentation advocates from across Nigeria. Engagement: Before: Promotion through existing WhatsApp/Telegram groups, social media, and partner networks. Virtual launch event to generate interest. During: Continuous support via virtual hubs and physical events. Regular reminders and tips shared on social media. After: Personalized thank-you messages, public recognition of winners, and invitation to join ongoing community activities to sustain engagement.
- 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 proposal has been discussed in the monthly meetings of both the EduWiki Nigeria and Wiki for Minority Nigeria communities. A dedicated discussion thread has been created on the [EduWiki Nigeria Talk Page] to gather feedback and suggestions, which have been incorporated into this plan. We have also informed the Wiki Loves Africa international team of our intent to participate.
- 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)
Cultural background, ethnicity, religion, racial
- 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)
Identify Topics for Impact
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:
Learning Question 1: What combination of virtual training and targeted community partnerships is most effective for recruiting and supporting new contributors from outside major urban centers in Nigeria?
Learning Question 2: Does focusing on a culturally specific theme like "Rites and Rituals" lead to higher-quality contributions and a stronger sense of ownership among participants compared to a general photography contest?
Learning Question 3: What are the key ethical considerations and best practices for documenting culturally sensitive rituals, and how can we better prepare contributors for this?
We will use registration data, post-event surveys, and interviews with community liaisons to gather insights.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 80 | |
| Number of editors | 60 | |
| Number of organizers | 7 |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 50 |
| Wikimedia Commons | 2000 |
| Wikidata | |
| Wiktionary | |
| Wikisource | |
| Wikimedia Incubator | |
| Translatewiki | |
| MediaWiki | |
| Wikiquote | |
| Wikivoyage | |
| Wikibooks | |
| Wikiversity | |
| Wikinews | |
| Wikispecies | |
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
- Optional description for content contributions.
2,000 new media files (photos, videos, audio) on Wikimedia Commons.
- 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)
through Event Registration dashboard, Wikimedia outreach Dasboard
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1849PUCbA29uSux1drYy0CDA43cmxCDtCT_mPqjOEyt0/edit?usp=sharing
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
4340000 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.
2945.78 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).