The entire Igbo Wikimedia community still remain in shock as we mourn the passing of one of our own.
Wilson Kelechi Oluoha joined the Wikimedia movement as an Igbo Wikimedian after he was invited to attend a Wiki Edit-a-thon by one of the co-founders of Igbo Wikimedians User Group (Tochi Precious Friday) at a youth entrepreneurship Program sponsored by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2018. He had so much passion for the movement. At that time, his only worry was that he may not be having so much time to devote to editing. While he advanced as a Wikimedian, he discovered that articles about Africa were always nominated for deletion on English Wikipedia. He often advocated within the community that we should take steps in doing things better and getting the articles to stay.
Wilson liked Photography. He initially tried editing on English Wikipedia, but he however found a passion for Wikimedia Commons since it aligned with his photography hobby. He always expressed his desire to showcase quality photos through his photography skills. His desire to pass knowledge spurred his idea about creating the IG WikiCommons Hub.As time went by, he noticed that the contributions coming from Africa were mostly from mobile phones. So, when Wiki In Africa announced the vacancy for Wiki Loves Africa (WLA) Community facilitator, it was a good opportunity for him to propel the changes he wanted to see. In 2023 he became WLA Community facilitator and has so far pioneered mobile phone photography and editing training for Wiki Loves Africa participants.Wilson often saw the need to help grow capacity in Igbo Wikimedia User Group beyond Wikipedia, Wikicommons and Wikidata. His global contributions across all Wiki projects was 11,199 (Eleven thousand one hundred and ninety nine).
According to one of his mentees, Wilson had some principles with which he advised them to grow on Igbo Wikimedia and the Wiki movement. Some of these principles include:
- “If you want to grow in the movement find something that is lacking in the community and start it, also research about what other people have done before, copy the idea, build on it, improve the idea and come out with something better”.
- “You don’t need to know how to do it before you start, learn it in the process, don’t reject opportunities.”
- “If you can’t do it well don’t touch it at all. It is better not to do it than to start it and not finish or not be excellent at it.”
- “For you to grow put God first, pray and ask God for direction and also be curious about everything.”
- “Whatever opportunity you get to present anything even though it’s a closing remark do it as though you are talking to kings, you don’t have to be casual about it because you don’t know who is watching.”
Wilson also had some favourite quotes and sayings with which he is known by community members. Some of these quotes are his, while others he learnt from his own mentors or from books he read. Thus, according to some community members, Wilson will always say:
“The Wikimedia space is a large space that can contain everybody.”
“You cannot bind Pharaoh.”
“You should always live ready.”
“Make sense on time, you don’t have the stage forever.”
“Think crazy, don’t be normal.”
“Don’t be okay, want more.”
“You can’t help a man look for what he is not looking for.”
Indeed, it was a tragic and untimely loss for our community. Igbo Wikimedians has therefore set aside Monday, 14th October 2024 to mourn his passing. On that day, all Igbo Wikimedia community activities will be shut down in honour of our beloved brother Wilson Kelechi Oluoha.
Wilson, Igbo Wikimedians User Group will miss you… Wikimedia Foundation will miss you… The world will miss you! May God almighty console your dear family and grant your gentle soul eternal rest.
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