By Adedapo Adesanya, Kemi Makinde
As part of efforts to boost Wikipedia knowledge among students in Nigeria, the Wikipedia Foundation recently trained students at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos on how to use and improve the online resource platform.
Launched in 2017, the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria is seeking to capitalise on the growing Internet access in Nigeria and the country’s high school-age population to help boost the accessibility and knowledge contribution on the Wikipedia platform.
Taking the training to NIJ, the club engaged the students on the basics of Wikipedia writing, editing, and how to improve the open resource website.
Speaking on the event, the President of the club, Mr Olushola Olaniyan, said, “We have established Wikimedia Clubs among Nigerian institutions such as the University of Ibadan to create social groups of Nigerian students about free knowledge.
“We have established partnerships with two media houses to broadcast Wikipedia-related programs on-air, eg Black Face Radio and WFM91.7.
“Bringing it here to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), we want students to know about Wikipedia and able to write and edit pages.”
On his part, the programme facilitator at the institute, Mr Akinlolu Ojo, said it was a welcomed development that the club was established in the school where journalists were trained.
He explained that journalists were charged with disseminating information and checking for misinformation and Wikipedia as a platform built on the truth is essential that the programme is taught to future journalists.
“We breed future journalists here, and it would be a huge disservice if we don’t take our students through this training. Wikipedia has always proven to be a credible platform and by having people whose profession is built on credibility contributing to it, it is a win-win situation,” he said.
The Governor of the Wiki Club at NIJ, Mr Henry Godwin, described the initiative as “commendable,” stressing that, “Any effort geared at pushing the boundaries of ignorance further away ought to be applauded.”
Another participant at the programme, Mr Pelumi Bolawa Solomon, expressed his appreciation saying “Wikipedia Nigeria has not only accorded me the opportunity to write for the largest online encyclopedia, but has improved my research ability, and given me the opportunities to do more investigations in order to rightly inform the general audience”.
Adding his input, Mr Emmanuel Ashemiriogwa said it was a very interactive and educative two-day class that exposed him to the basics of wiki editing. He says it is value-adding.
Modupe Gbadeyanka