Introducing the WikiHeritage Fellowship - African-Wikimedians

17 Jun 2025


      Dear All,
We are excited to announce the launch of the WikiHeritage Fellowship, a
transformative initiative aimed at improving access to Nigeria’s historical
records.
Through a strategic collaboration between Wikimedia UG Nigeria (registered
as Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation), the Young Innovation Leaders (YIL)
Initiative, and the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB), this
fellowship seeks to unearth, digitise, and publish rare archival documents
as open knowledge resources on platforms like Wikipedia.
We designed this idea to preserve and digitise hundreds of historical
records, including manuscripts, letters, maps, and public documents that
have remained largely inaccessible to the public. The goal is to ensure
that Nigerian history is no longer confined to physical vaults but is made
openly available and accessible to students, educators, researchers, and
the global public.
*The partnership brings together:*
• Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation contributes its expertise in free knowledge
dissemination and a robust volunteer community to enrich Wikipedia and its
sister projects with verified historical content.
• The Young Innovation Leaders (YIL) Initiative provides leadership
development, youth engagement, and digital literacy training.
• The Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) offers access to
rare archival resources and provides institutional support for their proper
digitisation and preservation.
This collaboration is also strategically aimed at making pre-Internet
archival resources available in digital formats, enabling them to be used
as citable, verifiable sources to enhance the quality and depth of
historical content about Lagos and Nigeria on Wikipedia and similar
knowledge platforms.
"We believe that our history should not be hidden in vaults. This project
is about preserving our heritage and making it openly available,
responsibly and accurately," said Olushola Olaniyan, President of the
Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation.
The project emerged as a strategic response to the critical lack of
authoritative and reliable sources supporting the online documentation of
Nigeria's history. It aims to fill the gap in verifiable information and
promote balanced storytelling about the country's past. The project will
premiere in Lagos, widely regarded as one of Nigeria's most culturally
rich, technologically advanced, and administratively structured states,
making it an ideal starting point for this ambitious undertaking.
*Key Highlights of the Project*
• Digitisation of Archival Records: Hundreds of rare historical documents
will be digitised and preserved for unrestricted public use.
• Wikipedia Content Enrichment: Primary source materials will be integrated
into Wikipedia articles to enhance the accuracy and depth of information.
• Community Engagement: Volunteers will participate in public edit-a-thons
and workshops to gain skills in historical documentation and digital
preservation.
• Youth Empowerment: Young journalists and fellows will benefit from a
series of training programs in Wikipedia editing, leadership, and archival
research.
*Fellowship Program Launch*
As part of this initiative, the organising partners are pleased to announce
the launch of a Fellowship Program, which will run from June 18 to June 30,
2025. The fellowship will train selected participants in archival research,
leadership, and digital documentation, preparing them to serve as
custodians of Nigeria's historical legacy.
A Model for National Impact
This collaboration is expected to serve as a model for future
public-private knowledge-sharing partnerships, aligning with broader goals
around open data, digital citizenship, and cultural preservation. By
empowering communities and expanding access to historical information, the
initiative is poised to leave a lasting impact on how Nigeria's history is
preserved, taught, and shared.
*Application Time-Line*
Application Launch: 18 June 2025
Application Close: 30 June 2025
Program Start: July 2025
Applicants can apply using the registration link below:
https://forms.gle/ErajYsEuGynJj9TAA
To learn more about the project, visit the link to its meta page below :
https://w.wiki/EVvh
Warm regards,
Rhoda James
On behalf of the WikiHeritage Organising Team