Wikimedians of Lagos User Group/Annual Report 2025-2026

This report outlines the activities, campaigns, elections participation, and community engagement efforts carried out by the Wikimedians of Lagos User Group between April 2025 and May 2026.

Overview

The Wikimedians of Lagos User Group continued its mission of promoting free knowledge and Wikimedia projects in Lagos and surrounding communities. During the reporting period, the group organized and participated in several major initiatives focused on community development, leadership participation, language growth, and improving representation on Wikimedia projects.

A major achievement during this period was the successful approval of the Nigerian Pidgin Wikiquote subdomain pcm.wikiquote.org in November 2025 after months of sustained community activities, trainings, and editing efforts.

Key Activities

SheSaid 2025 Campaign (October – December 2025)

As part of the global Wiki Loves Women initiative, the user group implemented the SheSaid 2025 Campaign on English Wikiquote. The campaign focused on documenting and improving quotes from notable women connected to Lagos and Nigeria.

• Goal: To reduce the gender gap on Wikiquote by increasing the visibility of women's voices and contributions.
• Highlights:
  • Training sessions on Wikiquote editing and sourcing reliable quotations.
  • Edit-a-thons focused on notable Nigerian women in leadership, culture, education, and activism.
  • Outreach activities encouraging participation from women and new editors.
  • Improvement and creation of Wikiquote entries related to women from Nigeria.
  • Community awareness campaigns through online engagement and social media outreach.

Participation in the WMF Board of Trustees Selection Election 2025 (July – October 2025)

Members of the user group actively participated in the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Selection Election 2025.

• Goal: To encourage community participation in Wikimedia movement governance and global decision-making processes.
• Highlights:
  • Community discussions about the election process and candidate review.
  • Awareness campaigns encouraging eligible Wikimedians to vote.
  • Sharing of election information and participation guidelines within local Wikimedia communities.
  • Increased engagement of community members in movement governance conversations.

Nigerian Pidgin Wikiquote Development Activities (May – November 2025)

The user group organized a series of trainings, edit-a-thons, and sustained editing activities that contributed to the successful approval of the Nigerian Pidgin Wikiquote subdomain pcm.wikiquote.org in November 2025.

• Goal: To support the growth and recognition of Nigerian Pidgin as a Wikimedia language project.
• Highlights:
  • Regular training sessions for new and existing contributors.
  • Edit-a-thons focused on building quality Nigerian Pidgin Wikiquote content.
  • Seven months of sustained editing and community coordination.
  • Recruitment and mentorship of new Nigerian Pidgin contributors.
  • Expansion of Nigerian Pidgin quotations, biographies, and thematic content.
  • Successful approval and launch of the Nigerian Pidgin Wikiquote subdomain in November 2025.

Community growth

• Continued outreach to underrepresented language communities, especially Nigerian Pidgin contributors.
• Increased participation of new editors through trainings and mentorship activities.
• Strengthened collaboration among contributors working on Wikiquote and other Wikimedia projects.
• Greater community awareness about Wikimedia governance and movement participation.

Challenges

• Internet access and data costs continued to affect long-term participation for some community members.
• Need for additional technical support and advanced editing training for newer contributors.
• Limited funding for larger in-person community events and outreach programs.

Future plans

• Continue supporting the growth of Nigerian Pidgin Wikiquote and related Wikimedia language projects.
• Organize more training programs focused on leadership, governance, and community sustainability.
• Strengthen partnerships with educational, cultural, and language-based organizations.
• Expand thematic campaigns promoting local knowledge, culture, and underrepresented communities.