Wikimedians of Northern Nigeria User Group

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Wikimedians of Northern Nigeria User Group

Northern Nigeria
LocationNorthern Nigeria
Country code
  • NGR
Staff6
Volunteers24
Official language(s)
Other language(s)
ChairmanUncle Bash
Key people
MottoPromoting Wikimedia projects in Northern Nigeria languages
Chapters (38)
Thematic organizations (2)
Wikimedia user groups (148)

The Wikimedians of Northern Nigeria User Group is a Wikimedia user group serving Wikimedians in Northern Nigeria – (Arewa). Northern Nigeria comprises all the states north to River Niger, which include Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Adamawa, Zaria, Sokoto, Kabba, Ilorin along with various tribes and cultures. There are about 60-70 languages across states in Northern Nigeria,

Northern Nigeria covers various states and provinces in Nigeria. It comprises of various ethnic groups like Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Nupe, Tiv, Igala, Berom and Yoruba. Which some of these major ethnic groups are absent in many Wikimedia Projects. Furthermore, there are about 60-70 languages across states in Northern Nigeria, in which very few have pages on Wikimedia projects (and some are in danger of extinction. link

The Wikimedians of Northern Nigeria User Group is aimed at promoting Wikimedia goals across the region as well as engaging the various languages present in the region to different Wikimedia Projects with special emphasis on Wikimedia Sister Projects such as Wikitionary, Wikiquote, Wikinews, Wikisource, Wikibooks among others. This user group will create a welcoming and enabling environment for every Wikimedian in this region and will aim toward achieving the mission and vision of Wikipedia, as well as 2030 strategies. It will also focus on engaging and training other languages present in Northern Nigeria in different Wikimedia projects.

Objectives[edit]

The objectives of this user group is to:

  • Create a welcoming and enabling environment for Wikimedians across Northern Nigeria
  • Promote use of Wikimedia projects by people in Northern Nigeria
  • Recruit and train people in the region on how to contribute to different Wikimedia Projects
  • Organize in-person and online gatherings of Wikimedians in the region
  • Engage the major languages among various ethnic groups (in the region) in Wikimedia Projects

Activities[edit]

Uncle Bash007 training women on Wiki Loves Women SheSaid campaign
Group picture SheSaid Hausa Wikiquote
Co-founders met at Katsina on 11th February 2024

Planned activities[edit]

Northern Nigeria Wikimedians User Group is aimed at fostering community engagement, knowledge sharing, and content improvement.

We will organise edit-a-thons, workshops, and training sessions to empower members with Wikimedia editing skills.

Additionally, outreach programmes in local communities, schools, etc to promote awarenesses about the Wikimedia projects.

By collaborating on these initiatives, we aim to amplify the representation of Northern Nigeria's culture and history on Wikimedia platforms.

We also aim at engaging minority languages and un-recognised user groups present in Northern Nigeria

Upcoming activities[edit]

  • Online meeting with Wikimedia Nigeria founders.
  • Online meeting with Igbo Wikimedians user group co-founders
  • Wikimedians of Northern Nigeria members will meet online with some of the co-founders of Igbo Wikimedians user group to discuss and learn on:
    • strategies in handling user group especially in Nigeria.
    • Challenges they faced and how they come about
    • Collaboration and how they build patnership both internal (Wikimedia) and external or government organisations here in Nigeria. and
    • Advises or opinions on our group's goal, system and vision...
    • Theme: Wikimedians of Northern Nigeria Monthly Meet-up
    • Date & Time: Sunday 3rd March, 2024. (9:00pm - 10:00pm UTC)
    • Venue: Google Meet YesY

Activity One: User Group Founders first in-person meeting & mini-editathon[edit]

Goals[edit]
  1. To discuss on the group's programs and road map
  2. Draw out policies relevant to Wikimedia guideline for group members.
  3. Strategise on collaborations both on-wiki and off-wiki.
  4. Assign roles and responsibilities among co-founders
  5. Organize mini editathon among members.
Report[edit]
Introduction[edit]

Co-founders of Northern Nigeria Wikimedians User Group organised an in-person meeting which took place in Katsina, Katsina State. Members sprawn from different locations; Kano, Funtua; & Kaduna. The meeting started around 11:30am till 3:00pm. The meeting was aimed to discuss on:-

  1. Road map and way forward for the group
  2. Discuss strategies that will help attain the group's objectives towards achieving Wikimedia Goals & visions
  3. Inspire collaborations both on-wiki and off-wiki
  4. Ways to create strong relationship with other Wikimedia User Groups, Chapters, etc.
  5. Assign roles and responsibilities among founders
  6. Conduct a mini-editathon to create/improve articles on Hausa Wikiquote.
Editathon[edit]

The mini editathon was kicked immidiately after the discussion meeting and it lasts for 24hrs. The contest is aimed towards increasing number of women quotations on Hausa Wikiquote, and developing the Incubator wiki.

What worked[edit]
  • We have achived our goal for creating/improving new articles
  • Every member participated in the event.
Challenges[edit]
  • Dashboard tool failed to track edits on Incubator
  • Time limit constrain is another factor. As participants came from different locations in Northern Nigeria; Kano; Funtua; and Kaduna, and some had to leave that same day to their home towns
Participant's Northern Nigerian Wikimedians UG First Editathon
S/N Names Articles created Articles Improved Cumulative
1. UncleBash 25 25 50
2. Gwanki
3. AYM8818
4. Yusuf Sa'adu 3 17 20
5. A Sulaiman Z 3 16 19
6. Sanusi Gado 2 11 13
7. Manaf205
8. hurayrahZ
9. Ayaadalhat
Gallery[edit]

Pictures of the event

  • Co-founders met at Katsina on 11th February 2024
    Co-founders met at Katsina on 11th February 2024
  • Co-founders conducted a mini-editathon
    Co-founders conducted a mini-editathon
  • Co-founders meeting & editathon
    Co-founders meeting & editathon
  • Co-founders meeting & editathon2
    Co-founders meeting & editathon2
  • Co-founders meeting & editathon
    Co-founders meeting & editathon

Activity two: Online meeting with founders of Hausa Wikimedians User Group[edit]

- to discuss on how to work and collaborate efficiently towards achieving our varying goals.

    • Date: Sunday 18th Feb. 2024
    • Time: 8:30pm
    • Link: Google meet
    • Remark: Achieved (we met with user:M-Mustapha as planned and we discuss deliberatly on above topics). YesY

Images[edit]

  • Uncle Bash007 training women on Wiki Loves Women SheSaid campaign
    Uncle Bash007 training women on Wiki Loves Women SheSaid campaign
  • Women participants
    Women participants
  • Group picture SheSaid Hausa Wikiquote
    Group picture SheSaid Hausa Wikiquote

Activity three: Board Members Monthly Meeting (February)[edit]

Minutes of the meeting[edit]

The meeting was organised for the month of February and co-founders met to discuss on the following:

  1. Policy, guidelines and rules of the user group based on accepted Wikimedia Guidelines & policies YesY
  2. Appointment of roles and responsibilities among co-founders. YesY
  3. To implement a monthly meet-upYesY

Activity four: Board Members Monthly Meeting (March)[edit]

  • Conducted on 3rd March, 2024. Achieved YesY

History[edit]

  • First coined in August 2023.

Contact information[edit]

Please use this wikipage's talk page to contact this group.

Contact Persons[edit]

Join us on[edit]

Interested in participating[edit]

  1. Umargana1
  2. Uncle Bash
  3. Gwanki
  4. Yusuf Sa'adu
  5. Aminu Badamasi
  6. A Salisu
  7. sadammuhammad11234
  8. A Sulaiman Z
  9. A'isha Sulaiman
  10. Sanusi Gado
  11. Hamza DK
  12. Manaf205
  13. Ayaadalhat
  14. Musa Vacho77
  15. Nazifi IN
  16. Muhammad Idriss Criteria
  17. HurayrahZ (talk)
  18. El-Abdallaah
  19. M Bash Ne
  20. Usmanmaifada
  21. Hauwau sulaiman
  22. Mr. Snatch
  23. Ibrahim Sani Mustapha
  24. AYM8818]]Talk

Leadership Structure[edit]

Following a series of in-person and online meetings, the co-founders agreed on appointing roles and responsibilities (based on experience) for a period of two years, after which an election process will take place to determine the next learders. Hence, the current leaders and board members are on the table below:

Board of trustees members
SN Board Member(s) Designation Date of appointment Expiration of appointment
1. Uncle Bash007 Chairman 07 February 2024 07 February 2026
2. Gwanki Vice Chairman 07 February 2024 07 February 2026
3. A Sulaiman Z Secretary 07 February 2024 07 February 2026
4. Sanusi Gado Treasurer 07 February 2024 07 February 2026
5. Hauwau sulaiman Ass. Secretary (Female) 07 February 2024 07 February 2026
Board of Advisory Committee
1. Yusuf Sa'adu Board Councilor 07 February 2024 07 February 2026
2. AYM8818 Board Vice Councilor 07 February 2024 07 February 2026
3. Manaf205 Board Auditor 07 February 2024 07 February 2024

Bylaws[edit]

The following policies are drawn for the smooth movement of the user group. Hence, these laws are flexible and may subject to changes with a more positive and strong idea (which is indeed directed towards achieving the user group's goals as well as Wikimedia mission and vision.

  1. The first chair and board members are based on appointment for the first tenure (2yrs). Appointment is made base on experience and competence. An election will be held to vote for the next government
  2. The acting chair and board members will serve two years before proceeding election
  3. The co-founders must be consulted in every decision and hence must be satisfied with the opinion before being approved
  4. Every other member has an equal right to give out an opinion or critic (positively). But all manners of the usergroup must be kept private and discussed discritely. Every member has a right to his privacy and other members as well.
  5. No official member will apply for a grant when user group grant is active. (unless otherwise necessary and could not be covered by the user group.
  6. When user group has received annual grant.. every member and non-mebers are eligible to apply for a mini-grant from the user group.
  7. There will be a monthly meet-up for group members.
  8. All official members must follow the Wikimedia user group agreement and code of conduct

Upcoming[edit]

  • User Group registration with Cooperate Affairs Commision CAC, to be recognised by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. (in progress...)
  • User Group will open a Cooperate Account (so that no single member can have access to group's fund without consent of other co-founders, among other reason for transparency & accountability. (in view)
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