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free knowledge dissemination and a robust volunteer community to enrich Wikipedia and its sister projects with verified historical content.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in digital formats, enabling them to be used as citable, verifiable sources to enhance the quality and depth of historical content about Lagos and Nigeria on Wikipedia and similar knowledge platforms.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
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