Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wikidata’s 13th Birthday Celebration:Promoting Awareness and Knowledge Access in Crisis-Prone Communities of Northern Nigeria (ID: 23553058)
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Applicant Details
[edit]- Main Wikimedia username. (required)
Umar2z
- 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.
Wikidata’s 13th Birthday Celebration: Promoting Awareness and Knowledge Access in Crisis-Prone Communities of Northern Nigeria
- 2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.
2025-11-15 - 2025-12-20
- 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)
Other (please specify) Wikidata Birthday Celebration
- 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)
In crisis-prone areas of Northern Nigeria, particularly Adamawa and Nasarawa States, access to reliable information about critical infrastructures such as hospitals, schools, water facilities, and shelters is limited or fragmented. During times of conflict, displacement, or natural disasters, the lack of accessible and accurate data hinders both community members and humanitarian actors from making timely and informed decisions. Moreover, much of the existing information is not available in local languages, making it less usable for the people most affected.
The change we want to bring is to ensure that essential infrastructures in these regions are visible, well-documented, and accessible on Wikidata, with clear labels and descriptions translated into relevant local languages. This will strengthen the information ecosystem, enabling communities to identify critical resources during crisis situations and making local realities more visible on a global scale.
Approaches and Strategies to Achieve this Change
Mapping and Listing Critical Infrastructures
Strategy: Identify and document key infrastructures (health centers, schools, water points, markets, shelters, etc.) on Wikidata.
Why: This provides an open, structured, and easily reusable dataset for communities, NGOs, and policymakers.
Improving Accessibility through Labeling and Translation
Strategy: Translate the names and descriptions of these infrastructures into English and local languages (e.g., Hausa, Fulfulde).
Why: Multilingual descriptions ensure usability by local communities and inclusion in the wider Wikimedia ecosystem.
Capacity Building for Sustainable Contributions
Strategy: Train participants, especially students, activists, and community volunteers, on how to contribute to Wikidata, focusing on editing, labeling, and translation.
Why: Building skills locally ensures continued contributions beyond the birthday event.
Awareness and Engagement
Strategy: Raise awareness about the importance of open data for crisis response and resilience during community discussions and workshops.
Why: Awareness fosters ownership and motivates participants to continue improving data even after the project.
Why These Approaches Will Work These approaches directly address the information gap in crisis-prone areas by leveraging Wikidata’s structured, multilingual, and open nature. Mapping infrastructures has already proven effective in humanitarian contexts (e.g., OpenStreetMap and Wikidata collaborations). By combining technical training, community ownership, and local-language accessibility, we ensure that the project delivers practical value during crises and long-term visibility for underrepresented regions.
- 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.
Planned Activities
Our project will run from 15 November to 20 December 2025 in Adamawa and Nasarawa States, Nigeria, with activities combining awareness, training, data contribution, and community engagement. The activities are directly aligned with our strategies of mapping, labeling, and translating critical infrastructures on Wikidata to support crisis resilience.
Project Launch & Awareness Campaign (15 November 2025)
Kick-off session (online and offline) introducing the project’s goals and relevance of documenting critical infrastructures on Wikidata.
Promotion through social media, flyers, and local radio.
Why: Creates awareness and mobilizes participants in both states.
Wikidata Training Workshops (20 & 27 November 2025)
Adamawa (20 Nov) and Nasarawa (27 Nov) workshops to introduce Wikidata editing, focusing on adding, labeling, and translating infrastructures such as hospitals, schools, water points, markets, and shelters.
Why: Builds capacity among students, activists, and health workers to sustain contributions.
Data Collection & Contribution Drive (15 Nov – 15 Dec 2025)
Participants identify infrastructures using public records, community knowledge, and institutional data.
Hands-on editing sessions to add items to Wikidata, improve labels, and translate descriptions into English, Hausa, and Fulfulde.
Why: Ensures creation of a high-quality, multilingual dataset relevant to crisis situations.
Community Discussions & Wikidata’s 13th Birthday Celebrations (5 & 10 December 2025)
Separate events in Adamawa (5 Dec) and Nasarawa (10 Dec).
Dialogue on open data and crisis resilience, with participation from NGOs, universities, health institutions, and community leaders.
Why: Strengthens community ownership and celebrates Wikidata’s 13th birthday while networking with stakeholders.
Recognition of Outstanding Contributors (15 December 2025)
Certificates and public acknowledgment for top contributors in infrastructure data, translation quality, and engagement.
Why: Encourages quality contributions and motivates long-term involvement.
Documentation & Reporting (20 December 2025)
Publish a blog post and project wiki page summarizing activities, datasets, and outcomes.
Share results with the Wikimedia community and partners.
Why: Ensures transparency, accountability, and knowledge sharing.
Partnerships
To ensure success and sustainability, the project will collaborate with the following partners:
Modibbo Adama University, Yola (Adamawa State) – providing students and researchers with expertise in environmental science, technology, and community development.
Nasarawa State University, Keffi – engaging students and faculty in social sciences, health, and environmental studies.
Federal Medical Centre, Keffi (Nasarawa State) – health workers validating and contributing data on health infrastructures.
School of Health Technology, Keffi (Nasarawa State) – involving health trainees in documenting infrastructures relevant to public health.
Community Leaders, Health Workers, and Student Groups – supporting mobilization, data verification, and ensuring community ownership.
Why These Activities Are Effective This activity design balances awareness (why it matters), training (how to do it), contribution (hands-on work), community discussions (ownership), and recognition (motivation). By engaging universities, health institutions, and community leaders, the project builds credibility, ensures accuracy of data, and creates pathways for long-term impact beyond the birthday celebration.
We will also maintain a public project page on Wikidata’s birthday hub for transparency and global visibility.
- 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.
Project Team
Our project team is composed of active volunteers of the Wikimedia Nigeria User Group, each bringing unique expertise and commitment to free knowledge. All members are volunteers and will contribute their time and skills to ensure the project’s success.
Umar2z (Umar Faruk Yunus) – Project Lead / Coordinator Umar is an experienced Information Technology professional with expertise in information systems management, project leadership, and cybersecurity. He has a strong track record in organizing Wikimedia activities through the Wikimedia Gombe Network, including trainings, edit-a-thons, and awareness campaigns. With skills in data analysis, programming, and project management, Umar will coordinate the project, liaise with partners, and ensure smooth execution.
Atibrarian – Training and Community Engagement Lead Atibrarian is an active contributor across Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata. He is passionate about knowledge sharing and community empowerment. For this project, he will lead training sessions, mentor new editors, and engage participants from universities, health institutions, and local communities.
Lazborn – Wikidata Trainer and Technical Support Lazborn is an experienced Wikidata contributor specializing in structured data editing and quality assurance. His role in the project will be to support hands-on editing sessions, ensure the accuracy of entries on critical infrastructures, and provide technical guidance to participants during the workshops and contribution drive.
Meritkosy – Community Outreach and Inclusivity Coordinator Meritkosy is a committed Wikimedian with a strong focus on diversity and inclusivity. She has supported community-building efforts and encourages gender representation in Wikimedia activities. In this project, she will coordinate outreach to student groups, NGOs, and community leaders while ensuring that diverse voices, particularly women and marginalized communities, are represented.
Umabruka – Partnerships and Local Liaison Officer Umabruka is an enthusiastic Wikimedia contributor focused on building collaborations and strengthening community participation. He has been actively involved in outreach activities and supports local partnerships for Wikimedia events. In this project, he will serve as the liaison with universities, medical institutions, and community leaders in Adamawa and Nasarawa States, helping to mobilize participants and sustain local engagement.
Team Structure and Contribution
All members are volunteers affiliated with the Wikimedia Nigeria User Group.
Umar2z will serve as project coordinator and main contact.
Atibrarian and Lazborn will lead training and technical quality.
Meritkosy will ensure inclusivity and outreach.
Umabruka will handle partnerships and community liaison.
This combination of technical, organizational, and community engagement skills provides a strong foundation for delivering impactful outcomes.
- 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 and Communities
Our primary participants will come from:
Students and faculty from higher institutions in Adamawa and Nasarawa (Modibbo Adama University Yola, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Federal Medical Centre Keffi, School of Health Technology Keffi).
Health workers and trainees from FMC Keffi and School of Health Technology Keffi, who will help validate health-related infrastructures.
Community leaders and activists engaged in crisis resilience and public service.
Local NGOs and civil society groups focused on health, education, and humanitarian response.
Wikimedia Nigeria User Group members and new contributors from the general public who are interested in open knowledge and digital literacy.
Engagement Before Activities
Awareness campaign through social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram) and local radio announcements to reach wider audiences.
Formal invitations and outreach to universities, health institutions, and NGOs.
Collaboration with community leaders and student groups to mobilize participants locally.
Engagement During Activities
Interactive training workshops in Adamawa and Nasarawa with hands-on practice on Wikidata.
Mentorship support from experienced Wikidata editors to guide new participants.
Encouraging collaborative group work (students + health workers + community members) to blend knowledge and ensure relevant infrastructure data is captured.
Community discussions and networking sessions during Wikidata’s 13th birthday celebration to foster dialogue and ownership.
Follow-up After Activities
Creation of a dedicated WhatsApp/Telegram support group where trainers and experienced Wikimedians will continue to guide participants.
Regular check-ins and feedback sessions to monitor participants’ contributions on Wikidata after the event.
Providing access to resource materials and tutorials so participants can continue learning independently.
Recognition and certificates for top contributors to motivate sustained engagement.
Establishing partnerships with local institutions (universities, health schools, NGOs) to integrate Wikidata activities into their ongoing programs.
This approach ensures that participants are engaged before, empowered during, and supported after the activities, creating a pathway for sustained contributions to Wikidata and long-term community growth.
- 10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)
Yes
- 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.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17pOBWIZM05LE7jtfqH3gBYWEskkoOX6UQH4i_5C5Ewo/edit?usp=sharing
- 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 notified and seek the input, suggestions and guide of the members of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Community through its discussion page on meta wiki. Link to the discussion:https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria#Planning_Wikidata%E2%80%99s_13th_Birthday_Project_in_Nigeria
Additionally, we have briefed the Hausa Wikimedia User Group on its discussion page on Meta Wiki, seeking input, guidance, and suggestions. Link to the discussion: https://ha.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Kofan_al%27umma#Sanarwa_akan_biki_zagayowar_shekara_ta_wikidata
- 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)
Advocacy
- 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)
Provide for Safety and Inclusion
Learning and metrics
[edit]- 17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)
What we hope to learn from this project
Through this project, we aim to generate knowledge not only about infrastructures but also about how open data and Wikidata can support crisis resilience in Nigeria. The following learning questions will guide our evaluation:
Community Engagement and Participation
How effective are local institutions (universities, health centers, NGOs, community leaders) in mobilizing participants for Wikidata activities?
What motivates students, health workers, and community members to participate, and what factors influence their continued involvement after the event?
Content Quality and Representation
What strategies are most effective in ensuring that critical infrastructure data (schools, hospitals, water points, markets, shelters) is accurate, well-labeled, and properly translated into local languages (Hausa, Fulfulde)?
How can peer-review and mentorship improve the quality and reliability of contributions during short-term campaigns?
Impact and Practical Relevance
To what extent does documenting and translating infrastructure data on Wikidata increase local awareness and visibility of crisis resources?
How do participants and local partners (universities, NGOs, health workers) perceive the usefulness of Wikidata in addressing crisis-related information gaps?
Sustainability and Long-Term Engagement
What follow-up mechanisms (WhatsApp groups, mentorship, institutional partnerships) are most effective in sustaining contributions after the event ends?
How can this model be replicated in other crisis-prone communities in Nigeria or the wider region?
Why This Matters These learning questions will help us understand both the practical impact (quality and visibility of infrastructure data) and the community dimension (sustained engagement, partnerships, inclusivity). The answers will guide future projects aimed at using Wikidata to strengthen resilience in underrepresented and crisis-prone regions.
- 18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)
| Other Metrics | Target | Optional description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 60 | We expect to engage a total of 60 direct participants across Adamawa and Nasarawa States.
Adamawa State: 30 participants Nasarawa State: 30 participants |
| Number of editors | 60 | We expect to engage a total of 60 direct participants across Adamawa and Nasarawa States.
Adamawa State: 30 participants Nasarawa State: 30 participants |
| Number of organizers | 5 |
| Wikimedia project | Number of content created or improved |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | |
| Wikimedia Commons | |
| Wikidata | 600 |
| Wiktionary | |
| 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)
We will use a combination of Wikimedia tools and locally adapted methods to measure our metrics:
Participant Metrics (new vs returning participants, number of attendees)
Event Registration Forms & Attendance Sheets: to capture participant names, contact info, and whether they are new or returning.
Outreach Dashboard / Programs & Events Dashboard: to track registered participants and their editing activity during the workshops and contribution drive.
Editing and Contribution Metrics (number of edits, items created or improved, translations)
Programs & Events Dashboard: to track the number of edits, items created, labels added, and translations made on Wikidata.
Wikidata Query Service: to verify items related to infrastructures (hospitals, schools, water points, markets, shelters) added or improved during the project.
Quality and Engagement Metrics (learning, awareness, partnerships)
Pre- and Post-Event Surveys: to measure changes in awareness, skills, and attitudes toward open knowledge and Wikidata.
Feedback Forms & Focus Group Discussions: to collect qualitative feedback from participants on training effectiveness and community discussions.
Partnership Records: documentation of collaborations with universities, health institutions, and NGOs.
Sustainability Metrics (retention and follow-up)
Follow-up WhatsApp/Telegram groups: to monitor ongoing engagement and provide continued support.
Monitoring Wikidata Contributions after the Event: through the dashboard and manual tracking of active usernames.
Financial proposal
[edit]- 21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)
- 22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)
4986694 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.
3245.11 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).