Wikimedia Foundation elections/2025/Candidates/Mr. Snatch

Abubakar Umar Sadiq (Mr. Snatch)

Mr. Snatch (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA • AE)

Total word count for the whole application (required + optional questions) is 2500 words.
Candidate details	Personal: Name: Abubakar Umar Sadiq Location: Borno Languages: English/Hausa Editorial: Wikimedian since: 2022 Active wikis: en.Wikisource/wikidata/Wiki Commons/Wikivoyage.
Candidate video statement
Have you read the minimum candidate requirements and verified you meet the minimum qualifications and the candidate eligibility requirements?		yes
Have you read the candidate guidelines and agree to abide by the guidelines?		yes
Required questions
These questions are required to consider your application complete. They help the community decide who to vote for. If this section is not complete by 23:59 AoE, July 8 (11:59 UTC, July 9), your application will not be considered. Candidates are required to have experience in the Wikimedia movement or a similar movement. Candidates are required to have experience serving on a collective decision-making body, such as Boards or committees and your application must reflect this experience. Please be as specific as you can with years served and other information.
Why are you running for the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees? What would you contribute? What would you like to learn more about?	I'm running for the Wikimedia Foundation Board to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and better support for emerging communities. I bring experience in local outreach, content creation, and cultural preservation. I want to contribute to strategic decision-making while learning more about governance and how to better align global goals with local needs.
Please describe your Wikimedia experience (such as contributions to the Wikimedia projects, memberships in Wikimedia organizations or affiliates, activities as a Wikimedia movement organizer, or participation with a Wikimedia movement ally organization).	I actively contribute to multiple Wikimedia projects, focusing on Northern Nigerian culture, history, and languages. As a member of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, I’ve organized edit-a-thons, photo walks, and outreach programs. I also collaborate with local institutions to promote open knowledge and mentor new editors, helping to grow and diversify the Wikimedia movement.
From your perspective, what should the Wikimedia Foundation be prioritizing over the next 3-5 years, and why do you see these as the most important priorities?	The Wikimedia Foundation should focus on supporting underrepresented communities, investing in community growth and sustainability, and improving user friendly technology. These priorities will help make the movement more inclusive, accessible, and effective in sharing free knowledge globally.
Please describe your experience with governing bodies of organizations (nonprofit or for-profit), mentioning the scope of your responsibilities, as well as the complexity of the organization (in terms of scale of operations, budget, number of people involved, or other meaningful measures) and the size of the board or body.	I’ve managed Wikimedia community projects involving planning, budgeting, and team coordination. Although I haven’t served on a formal board, my experience working with diverse stakeholders and leading initiatives has prepared me for governance roles. I’m ready to contribute and learn within a structured board environment.
Questions from the Community (required)
These questions were sourced from the community. These questions are required to consider your application complete. If this section is not complete by 23:59 AoE, July 8 (11:59 UTC, July 9), your application will not be considered.
How do you plan to ensure transparency and accountability in your decision-making processes as a member of the Board of Trustees?	I will ensure transparency and accountability by openly communicating decisions, seeking community input, and supporting regular reporting. I believe in honest leadership, active listening, and representing the movement with fairness and integrity.
What will be the first new issue you would like to bring to the attention of the Board for discussion, and how would you approach it?	The first issue I would bring to the Board is the urgent need to empower underrepresented communities. I would approach it by listening to their voices, identifying key challenges they face, and proposing inclusive, practical solutions that ensure they are not left behind. True knowledge equity begins by addressing these gaps at the foundation level.
How should decisions about trade-offs and prioritisation in Wikimedia technology or product areas be approached? Please explain what the trade-off is in your view.	Wikimedia technology decisions should balance innovation with sustainability, and the needs of new users with experienced contributors. Trade-offs must be guided by community input, data, and transparency to ensure fair and inclusive progress across the movement.
The number of Wikimedia affiliates has grown significantly over the past few years, but ensuring adequate resourcing can be a challenge. Given this, how might we rethink the movement ecosystem, including how affiliates are evaluated, engaged, and resourced?	As our movement grows, we must recognize that each affiliate operates within its own reality. Rethinking the ecosystem means valuing impact over size, listening over assumption, and offering support that matches local needs. A more thoughtful, balanced approach to evaluation and resourcing will help all affiliates grow with dignity and purpose strengthening the movement as a whole.
As the Wikimedia Foundation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position transitions, what qualities do you believe the incoming leader should embody, and how would these contribute to the advancement of the Wikimedia movement?	The new CEO should be a leader who understands that Wikimedia’s strength lies in its communities. They must combine strategic leadership with deep respect for volunteer driven work, ensuring decisions are not top down but shaped through dialogue. In a rapidly changing digital world, the CEO must prioritize equity, transparency, and collaboration to keep the movement both resilient and relevant.
Optional questions - Professional Experience, Skills and Education
These questions are optional. Responses will count towards the total word limit on your application. (Reminder: You will not have other opportunities to provide this information).
Please describe your professional career experience and relevance to board work.	Through my work in technology and grassroots knowledge initiatives, I’ve learned to bridge structure with empathy balancing logic with the needs of real people. This perspective is vital for board leadership, where decisions must be guided not just by policies or data, but by long-term impact, fairness, and the shared values of the movement.
Please describe how you handled, or advised others on, a complex problem in an organization. How did you work with others to address the situation? What was the change that resulted from your efforts?	I addressed low participation in a Wikimedia project by organizing offline trainings, providing local language materials, and partnering with institutions for internet access. By working closely with a team and involving mentors, we increased engagement and improved content contributions showing the power of collaboration and adaptability in solving complex challenges.
Please describe your educational background, including degrees, certificates, and courses of study finished, and their relevance to board work.	With a background in telecommunications engineering and additional training in leadership, open knowledge, and project management, I bring both technical insight and practical experience. This blend prepares me well for board responsibilities, especially in making informed, inclusive, and strategic decisions. Also I'm working with Radio Nigeria Sunshine Fm Potiskum 104.5Mhz, Yobe yobe state.
Please add any relevant links describing your professional background, experience, profile (such as LinkedIn, staff page, etc.).	[1] [2]
Optional questions - Leadership Experience
These questions are optional. Responses will count towards the total word limit on your application. (Reminder: You will not have other opportunities to provide this information).
Please describe ways in which you have helped to form a bridge between multiple communities (such as by working on projects outside your home wiki, or working on a collaboration between multiple affiliates).	I’ve helped bridge communities by leading multilingual projects across Hausa, Fulfulde, and English Wikipedias, and by organizing Wiki Loves Monuments in Maiduguri. I also contributed to Wikisource by preserving local texts, and collaborated with multiple affiliates to host cross-regional events. These efforts have strengthened unity, cultural exchange, and cooperation within the Wikimedia movement.
Can you describe a policy, on wiki or off, that you helped to create or change? What did you learn from this experience?	I contributed to creating local guidelines for Wikimedia events and helped shape content policies on Hausa Wikipedia. This experience taught me how important collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and open dialogue are in developing policies that truly serve the community.
How have you been able to empower people to make their voices heard?	I’ve empowered others by creating inclusive spaces, offering mentorship, and encouraging contributions from underrepresented groups. Through training and support, I’ve helped people share their knowledge and make their voices heard within the Wikimedia movement.
Can you describe how you have demonstrated the ability to guide others in solving problems, adapting to change or achieving goals, particularly at a leadership or management level?	I’ve led teams through challenges by adapting plans, mentoring new contributors, and encouraging collaboration—especially during projects like Wiki Loves Monuments in Maiduguri. This experience taught me the value of flexibility, communication, and supportive leadership in achieving shared goals.
Optional questions - Strategic Thinking
These questions are optional. Responses will count towards the total word limit on your application. (Reminder: You will not have other opportunities to provide this information).
Please describe your experience participating in or leading an organization in planning for its future. How did your work contribute to picking the right path for the organization?	I’ve been part of planning Wikimedia projects by listening to the community, understanding local needs, and setting clear goals. By working with others and building the right partnerships, I helped shape a path that was practical, inclusive, and true to our shared mission.
Verification	Identity verification performed by Wikimedia Foundation staff and eligibility verification performed by the Elections Committee
Verification	Eligibility: Candidate not eligible	Identification: Verified Verified by: – NahidSultan (WMF) (talk) 12:27, 8 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]