Grants:Wikimedia UG Nigeria Grants/Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Community Support Fund/Wiki Loves Africa 2026: Documenting Rites and Rituals in Rivers State

Project summary

Briefly summarize your project proposal.

Wiki Loves Africa 2026 is part of a continent-wide annual campaign encouraging Africans to contribute freely licensed media that reflects their lived realities to Wikimedia Commons. The 2026 theme, “Rites and Rituals,” presents a timely opportunity to document and preserve the diverse cultural expressions of Rivers State, many of which are underrepresented or absent on Wikimedia platforms.

This project will mobilise photographers, videographers, community members, and Wikimedia contributors in Rivers State to document rites and rituals such as traditional festivals, initiation ceremonies, marriage customs, funerary practices, masquerades, and religious observances—while respecting ethical, cultural, and consent considerations.

Wikimedia Project

Please state the Wikimedia project your project will focus majorly on (e.g. Tyap Wikipedia, English Wikiquote, etc). It is advisable to focus on one Wikimedia project, but a maximum of two projects is allowed.

English Wikipedia and Wiki Commons

Contact person and Location

Please state the contact details of the contact person(s) for this project including email(s) and location. For more than one contact person, indicate same details for everyone

Full name: Ejike Onyeke
Email address: wejike7gmailcom
Address: Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Location of Project: Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Project class

Please state the name of the network/club

Wikimedia User Group Rivers Network

Timeline of activities

Please state the timeline of your activities, and include the start and end date for your project

1st - 31st March

Project Goal

Choose one or more of the following goals. Feel free to add or delete goals as required by your project.

recruit new editors
Add or improve content
Increase high-quality media content on Wikimedia Commons related to Rivers State cultural rites and rituals
Build local capacity around Wikimedia Commons contributions and open licensing
Increase participation of new and existing contributors in Rivers State
Improve representation of Rivers State culture across Wikimedia projects

Project Plan

Activities

Tell us how you'll carry out your project. Be sure to answer the following questions:

1. Are you doing one editathon or training or a series of editathons or trainings?

#Pre-Edit-a-thon Training Session (virtual session) – Hands-on Wiki common editing training for new and old participants.

#Photo Walk – Participants will visit key cultural sites and communities in Rivers State to take high-quality images for upload on Wikimedia Commons.

#Edit-a-thon Contest (2 weeks) – Participants will create and upload videos, photos and or audio related to Rivers State festivals, cultural heritage, rights and rituals.

2. How have you let relevant Wikimedia communities know about this proposal? You may also provide information about external social media channels you may be using.

We have taken several steps to ensure that relevant Wikimedia communities are aware of this proposal:

1. Wikimedia Rivers Network WhatsApp Group – Our WhatsApp group of over 80 members has been actively engaged in discussions and updates about the proposal, encouraging participation and feedback.

2. Personal Network & Outreach – As the project organizer, I have leveraged my connections to inform Wikimedia editors, partner organisations, and digital content creators who may be interested in supporting or participating in the project.

3. Existing Wikimedia Networks – We plan to share information about the proposal with Wikimedia User Group Nigeria and other active Wikimedia communities to gain visibility and attract experienced contributors.

4. Social Media Channels – We plan to promote the project through various external channels, including:

Twitter (X) – Posting updates and tagging relevant Wikimedia groups.
Facebook – Sharing in Wikimedia-related groups and pages.

LinkedIn – Engaging with professionals and academic communities who can contribute.

3. How will you let participants know about the edit-a-thon? In what ways will you be communicating with them?

For example, these can include on-wiki spaces, social media channels, mailing lists, messaging apps, or physical/online gatherings.

Wikimedia Rivers Network and Wikimedia Nigeria WhatsApp Group – This will be our primary communication channel for sharing updates, training materials, event reminders, and engagement before, during, and after the edit-a-thon.

My Personal Network – Leveraging my professional and academic connections, I will directly reach out to individuals interested in cultural documentation, digital skills, and Wikimedia projects to encourage participation.

Partnerships and Members' Networks – Engaging partners, institutions, and community groups to help spread the word, invite potential participants, and expand outreach beyond our immediate network. This will include educational institutions, cultural organisations, and local Wikimedia advocates who can bring in more contributors.

4. Do you have experienced Wikimedia editors to lead/assist the event? Please provide links to the usernames of these individuals. (NOTE: all experienced Wikimedia editors MUST endorse and sign your proposal as proof of availability)
For example: User:Kaizenify

User:Ashioma (WUGN)

5. Do participants have the equipment or skills needed to participate and contribute high quality content? If not, how will you support them?

Participants have the basic equipment

6. How will you engage participants after the event(s)?

To sustain participants' interest and encourage continued contributions to Wikimedia projects, we will implement the following engagement strategies:

Follow-up Training & Support
Recognition & Incentives
Ongoing Community Engagement
Future Projects & Opportunities

7. Is there anything else you want to tell us about this project?

Strategic Partnerships

To strengthen outreach, participation, and sustainability, this project will be implemented in partnership with three city-based Local Organisations of Junior Chamber International Nigeria in Rivers State: JCI Trans-Amadi, JCI Port Harcourt Metro, and JCI Garden City.

These partnerships will support participant mobilization, community sensitization, volunteer coordination, and local visibility for the Wiki Loves Africa 2026 campaign. Collaborating with JCI Local Organisations also helps to consolidate and operationalize the growing partnership between the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria and JCI Nigeria, while introducing young professionals and civic leaders to Wikimedia projects and open knowledge contribution.

Impact

How will you know if the project is successful and you've met your goals? Please include the following targets (only those applicable to your project):

Number of events - 2
Number of participants - 30
Number of new editors - 20
Number of of articles created -
Number of of articles improved -
Number of of images uploaded - 200
Number of repeat participants (for projects that include a series of events) - 10

Metrics tracking

How do you plan to track your project metrics? (do not create a metrics dashboard until your project has been approved for funding)

1. Participation Metrics

Number of participants: Tracked through event registration and attendance records.
New vs. returning editors: Identified through user contributions and Wikimedia Dashboard.

2. Content Contribution Metrics

Number of photos uploaded: Measured through Wikimedia Commons category tracking for the event.

3. Engagement & Retention Metrics

Participant retention rate: Measured by tracking how many attendees continue editing after the event.
Post-event engagement: Monitored through follow-up training attendance and activity in the Wikimedia Rivers Network WhatsApp group.

4. Quality Metrics

Number of photos used in Wikipedia articles (not just uploaded to Commons).

5. Impact & Awareness Metrics

Social media reach: Measured through post engagement, shares, and new members joining from publicity.
New partnerships formed: Tracked by the number of collaborations with cultural and educational institutions.

Contest & prize-giving events

How would decide the winners of your contest (If you are going to have a contest, what is your scoring criteria)

Resources

What resources do you have? Include information on who is organizing the project, what they will do, and if you will receive support from anywhere else (in-kind donations or additional funding).

Organizing Team & Roles

Ejike Onyeke (Lead Organizer) – Overall coordination, outreach, and engagement with participants and stakeholders.
Existing Wikimedia Rivers Network Leadership Team Members – Assisting with event planning, facilitation, and follow-up engagement.
Experienced Wikimedia Editors – Providing hands-on training, mentorship, and content review for participants.

Available Resources

Network of Academics & Cultural Experts – Providing research materials, expert insights, and content validation.
Wikimedia Rivers Network WhatsApp Group (70+ members) – A communication hub to engage and update participants.
Online Training Tools – Use of Wikimedia Outreach Dashboard and event pages for tracking contributions.

What resources do you need? For your funding request, list bullet points for each expense as a unit amount and include a total amount.

Hall rental (Hall, Light, Projector) - 150,000
Training logistics - 2,000 (30) - 60,000
Data for Campaign & Training - 10,000
Refreshments - 4,500 (30) - 135,000
Graphic Designs - 20,000
Photography 20,000
Facilitator's logistics - 10,000
Contingencies - 20,000

Total - 425,000

Endorsements

Community members are encouraged to endorse your project request here!

Submit your report