Hi Nkem, Your initiative sounds very exciting. I am a Wikimedia community leader in Ghana and cofounder of Global Open Initiative Foundation. We have supported programs like this in the past and we’re currently organizing a workshop for librarians in Accra next week. If you can be specific about you want to learn from my local Wikimedia community then we’re happy to support you as much as we can. You can reach me off-list if you prefer. -Masssly 0546360674 From: Nkem Osuigwe Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 4:47 PM To: libraries(a)lists.wikimedia.org Subject: [libraries] Collaboration between Wikipedia and African libraries Hi, I am Nkem Osuigwe. I work with AfLIA (African Library and Information Associations and Institutions). We recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Wikimedia Library for training and to get more Librarians understand the value and importance of Wikipedia as a resource for information dissemination and research in Africa. One of the terms of agreement in the MoU is having a progressive course on Wikipedia standards and processes for Librarians. We have been advised to write a grant proposal for a Wikipedian in Residence who will help adapt the already existing curriculum and materials to suit the African information environment and library ecosystem. The curriculum and materials were developed by OCLC for an American audience. I came across this Discussion list as I was researching to understand more about how the Resource has been used by libraries. Now, I saw in writing for the grant proposal that I need to have informed Wikipedia Communities. Please can I get guidance on the Wikipedia communities that I need to inform that AfLIA is writing for a Wikipedia project grant to support the hiring of a Wikipedian in Residence? Also, I strongly believe that we will need ideas and tips from this Community to help AfLIA run the training course successfully. You may read up about AfLIA -web.aflia.net We have members(Institutional) in 33 countries in Africa and we hope to leverage on it to increase the reach and use of Wikipedia. I look forward to hearing from anyone here. Thank you! Nkem E. Osuigwe PhD CLN Human Capacity Development & Training Director, African Library and Information Associations & Institutions(AfLIA) P.O.Box BC 38, Burma Camp, Accra, Ghana. neosuigwe(a)aflia.net  drnkemosuigwe(a)gmail.com nkemekene(a)ymail.com Website: www.aflia.net Facebook /Twitter /Instagram "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." - Henry Ford. "Knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand" - Albert Einstein

You are very welcome Dr. Osuigwe; it’s really great knowing of the relationship/understanding between your organization and The Wikimedia Library. This is a great feat as it will further boost the capacity of librarians across Africa and how well they could maximize the use of Wikipedia and other sisters project. Personally, I am very elated about this development mainly because am from Africa(Nigeria) as this will intentionally boost the work we have been doing partnering with various public and academic libraries already here in Nigeria. As regard the grant proposal; it is open and really simple to put up once you have the right variables and will be ready personally to help in any way possible. And as Merrilee pointed out we will also be here to comment and support when it’s ready. Feel free to contact me personally or this list of any questions or clarifications whatsoever. Once again you are welcome here. Best regards, Ayokanmi On Tue, 18 Feb 2020 at 5:47 PM, Nkem Osuigwe <neosuigwe(a)aflia.net> wrote: -- Ayokanmi Oyeyemi Director, Kaizen Media Hub Director of Media, JCI Ikeja Co-lead, Wiki Loves Women Nigeria Community lead, Wikimaster Nigeria Coordinator, Wiki Loves Earth Nigeria Jury Member, Wiki loves Earth international Jury team Member Steering Committee, Wikipedia and Library Usergroup www.wikimedia.org.ng ayokanmioyeyemi(a)gmail.com +2347063944643 "*Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge*"