Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa State Content Drive in Wikipedia

The project was focused on mitigating systematic bias and bridging content discrepancies on Wikipedia regarding Niger Delta region with focus on Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa States. The project was spearheaded by Ugwulebo and Omorodion, who are both dedicated wikimedians in the wiki space. The primary objective was to enhance the representation of the culture, traditions, and noteworthy information pertaining to the region, thereby augmenting its visibility on the world’s largest online encyclopedia.

Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states are significant regions in Nigeria, each with its unique cultural heritage, natural resources, and socio-economic dynamics. Akwa Ibom, located in the South-South geopolitical zone, is known for its rich cultural festivals, such as the annual Ibibio Festival of Arts and Culture, as well as its vast oil reserves, which contribute significantly to Nigeria’s oil production.

Bayelsa, also situated in the South-South region, is notable for being the home of the Ogbia and Ijaw ethnic groups, its mangrove swamps, and its pivotal role in Nigeria’s oil industry, as it is home to several oil-producing communities.

It is crucial to have comprehensive information about these regions and bridge the knowledge gap on platforms like Wikipedia to ensure that the cultural, historical, and geographical significance of these regions are accurately represented and accessible to a global audience. Bridging the content gap on Wikipedia regarding Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states allows for the preservation and dissemination of their unique cultural identities, histories, and contributions to Nigeria and the world at large. Moreover, it promotes a more inclusive and diverse representation of Nigeria’s cultural landscape on a widely accessed platform, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of these regions’ importance

The project sought to rectify the insufficient documentation of the diverse ethnic groups, cultural heritage, and notable landmarks in Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states on Wikipedia. Despite the abundance of cultural events and significant locations in these regions, such as the Ekombi dance, Usoro Ekoon Festival, and Itam Industrial Area, there remains a gap in documentation about these activities By bridging this content gap, the initiative aimed to enhance the visibility of these regions and their rich cultural tapestry, thereby facilitating broader access to the reservoir of knowledge about Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, and to also foster the spirit of community amongst Wikimedians in these regions by creating awareness to residents to improve contributions made on Wikipedia. 

Editors improving and creating articles during the Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa history write-a-thon

Goals and objectives

The project successfully achieved several key objectives:

• It attracted participants from historically underrepresented demographics, thereby fostering greater diversity within the community.

• By fostering collaboration and communication, it cultivated a more inclusive and tightly-knit culture within our community.

• It generated comprehensive content addressing topics and groups that had been previously overlooked or marginalized.

• It amplified voices from underrepresented perspectives, enriching the overall diversity of content on the platform.

• Through various engagement strategies, it promoted the continued involvement of editors, ensuring their ongoing contribution to the project.

• It also facilitated the continued participation of organizers, bolstering the sustainability of the project over time.

• Notably, it heightened participants’ sense of belonging and connection to the broader movement, fostering a more profound and enduring commitment to its goals and values

Activities

Publicity Campaign

Efforts were made to raise awareness about Wikipedia and its sister projects among the residents of Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa state. This involved disseminating E-posters across various communication channels to attract potential participants.

TRAINING SESSIONS 

• Online Training:
  • An online onboarding and training session was conducted, guiding participants through the process of creating Wikipedia accounts, crafting articles, and incorporating Wikilinks and citations.
  • The session was recorded for future reference, ensuring accessibility and continuous learning opportunities for participants.
• Physical Training:
  • In-person training sessions were organized to complement online learning, offering participants hands-on experience and the opportunity to address any challenges they encountered.
  • Discussions during these sessions allowed for the resolution of queries and the reinforcement of knowledge gained from online training.

Facilitator putting participants through during the physical session 

Edit-a-thon 

 The edit-a-thon/write-a-thon yielded a significant impact, showcasing the valuable contributions of its participants throughout the project’s duration. Leveraging the outreach dashboard as a monitoring tool, approximately 398 Wikipedia articles were authored during the write-a-thon, while over 3,790 articles received enhancements. These efforts notably bolstered awareness and visibility of the regions by incorporating info boxes, citations, categories, and wiki links, among other enhancements. Such activities not only refined the editing prowess of both novice and seasoned contributors but also enriched the overall quality of content on Wikipedia.

List Building and Development of project page

 A list of notable subjects or topics pertaining to the regions was created for the project. This list served to assist editors in identifying topics aligned with the project’s goals, as well as to provide a catalogue of existing Wikipedia articles in need of improvement. A documentation page was also established, featuring a comprehensive list of articles to be created or improved. This resource proved invaluable in assisting participants in identifying content gaps on Wikipedia and prioritising their contributions

Communication and Personalised Support

Dedicated efforts were made to establish effective communication channels and provide personalised support to participants throughout the project with the help of experienced facilitators 

Regular communication via email, messaging platforms, and virtual meetings ensured that participants felt supported and engaged.

Individual assistance was offered to address specific challenges or questions raised by participants, fostering a supportive learning environment.

METRICS 

Number of articles created and improved	4188
Number of participants recruited	94
Number of article views	1.55 Million

Outcome

• Editor Recruitment:
  • A total of 94 editors were recruited, including – new participants, enriching the diversity and engagement of contributors to the project.
• Raising Awareness of Wikipedia:
  • The project successfully raised awareness of Wikipedia among the residents of Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa state resulting in increased participation and contributions to the platform, bridging the contributor gap in the community.
• Significant Impact on Wikipedia and sister projects:
  • Participants made a significant impact by generating over 4188 edits on Wikipedia, 511 uploads on Wikicommons and generated over 1.55 million article views during the project’s implementation, which was tracked using the outreach dashboard. .

Group picture showing participants at the end of the physical session 

• Increased Participation from Underrepresented Groups:
  • We successfully attracted participants from underrepresented demographics, ensuring a more diverse and inclusive community.
• Fostering a Culture of Inclusivity and Connectivity:
  • Through various activities and initiatives, we have cultivated an environment of inclusivity and connectedness, where participants feel valued, supported, and connected with one another.
• Addressing Content Gaps and Representing Underrepresented Topics:
  • Our efforts have led to the development of content about underrepresented topics and groups, contributing to a more comprehensive and inclusive representation of data about the regions on Wikipedia.
• Amplifying Underrepresented Perspectives:
  • We have actively worked to amplify the voices and perspectives of underrepresented groups within our community, challenging dominant narratives and promoting greater understanding and empathy

Facilitators:

Facilitators at the Physical event of the Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa history write-a-thon

Conclusion

Prior to the implementation of this project, significant gaps in data existed regarding Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, resulting in limited international visibility for these regions. Throughout the project, efforts have been made to document the rich culture and traditions of the people of Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa. While progress has been made, there remains much more work to be done. Wikipedia has emerged as a valuable resource for storing our collective knowledge and preserving it for future generations