A Journey of Growth: My Experience at the Wikimedia Nigeria Community Leaders Retreat 2025

I’ve always believed in the power of knowledge, but this retreat made me realize something deeper; knowledge alone isn’t enough. Leadership shapes its impact.

Before this retreat, my role in the Wikimedia movement felt clear: edit, organize events, and engage. But stepping into that room of community leaders from across Nigeria, I quickly saw that leadership in Wikimedia isn’t just about projects; it’s about people, vision, and sustainability.

Over the days at the retreat, I found myself reflecting:
How do we build communities that last?
What does true leadership look like in a movement fueled by volunteers?
How do we ensure the stories we document today remain for generations to come?

Through insightful sessions, we explored practical solutions to these questions. We discussed financial sustainability, learning how communities can access funding through the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Microgrant for small-scale projects and from the Wikimedia Foundation for larger initiatives.

But beyond community funding, we also explored financial sustainability as individuals. Leadership in an open movement often means volunteering time and effort, but it’s important that leaders also build personal financial stability. We had insightful discussions on investment initiatives, including strategies for smart savings, long-term investments, and income diversification. Because when leaders are financially stable, they can contribute more effectively to the movement without burnout. This session was led by the team from Zedcrest

Another powerful takeaway was the importance of mentorship and team work. Many of us started in Wikimedia because someone guided us, yet we sometimes forget to do the same for others. Leadership in this movement isn’t just about what we accomplish, it’s about who we uplift along the way. About team work, I learnt that everyone in a team, from the lowest to the highest is important, and also the strategies for effective teamwork includes: Common goal, Clarity of purpose, Division of labour, etc. I’m exited about the impact I’ve gained from all the sessions we had. This session was led by Ibraheem Tiamiyu

All the leaders had the opportunity to present their plans for their communities for the year 2025. I also presented mine and learned from fellow leaders’ presentations. It’s going to be an amazing year for both leaders and community members of the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria; here’s the link to my project plan for my community Wikimedia User Group Nigeria- Akwa Ibom Network for the year 2025: https://bit.ly/41oqvno (Google Slides)

On the last day, we visited Badagry for a tour, a place where history lingers in every step. We listened to stories of the transatlantic slavery, and reflected on the importance of preserving history, something that aligns perfectly with Wikimedia’s mission. We are not just editors; we are historians, archivists, and protectors of knowledge. When we got back from the tour, most of us created and improved articles on transatlantic slavery on Wikipedia. Here’s a link to one of them: Seriki Williams Abass Slave Museum.

But beyond the learning, beyond the strategies, this retreat gave me an opportunity to connect with fellow community leader, some of us had only ever met online, but here, we weren’t just usernames on a screen; we were a community.

I left the retreat with more than just insights; I left with purpose. This experience reaffirmed that Wikimedia is more than just edits and uploads. It’s about empowering leaders, building lasting impact, and preserving knowledge that matters.