The Nigeria Wikimedia community inaugurates its Public Policy Advocacy Team

The Nigeria Wikimedia Community Public Policy Advocacy Team held its inaugural meeting to kick start its Public Policy Advocacy initiatives aimed to envision and engage in social change in public policies and human rights, enhancing a friendly internet environment for open knowledge. The group intends to engage relevant stakeholders within the country’s open knowledge space, providing information about ongoing and future activities, opportunities, and challenges related to the impact of public policies on open knowledge in the country.

Our Philosophy

1. Change Advocate: The group intends to catalyze influencing policy changes to promote open knowledge in the country.
2. Supporting Group: The group will support all Nigeria Wikimedia affiliates in public policy changes and needs.
3. Community Driving: The Nigeria Wikimedia community members and mission-aligned partners will drive the initiatives.

The Team Objectives

• Raise Awareness: To explore the practical benefits of open knowledge and how it can enhance our daily lives and work. Educate Nigerians (individuals, multinationals, government agencies, etc.) about these benefits and their importance.
• Advocacy: To advocate for policies that promote and protect open access to information, data, and research.
• Capacity Building: Equip individuals and organizations with the necessary skills and tools to create, share, and utilize open knowledge effectively.
• Collaboration: Join government agencies, educational institutions, NGOs, and the private sector to advance open knowledge initiatives, making everyone feel included in this vital work.
• Innovation: Foster the development of innovative solutions that leverage open knowledge for societal progress, inspiring hope for a brighter future.

Programs

• Awareness Campaigns: Organize workshops, seminars, and public talks to raise awareness about open knowledge principles, licenses, and best practices.
• Policy Advocacy: Engage policymakers at local, state, and federal levels to advocate for legislation and policies that promote open access to government data, research publications, and educational resources.
• Capacity-Building Workshops: Conduct training sessions for students, researchers, educators, and government officials on open data management, open-source software, and Creative Commons licensing.
• Community Outreach: Collaborate with local communities to create and curate open educational resources, such as textbooks, lesson plans, and multimedia content.
• Research and Development: Support research projects that explore the impact of open knowledge on economic development, education, healthcare, and governance in Nigeria.
• Edit-a-thons and Innovation Challenges: Organize edit-a-thons and innovation challenges to encourage the development of open-source solutions addressing societal challenges in Nigeria

Structure

The group comprises:

1. Representative of Nigeria Wikimedia Affiliates
2. Public Policy Experts
3. Community Members

Call to Action

1. Review and assess the Nigerian Language Policy of 2022 to evaluate its level of implementation and its potential impact on the quality and participation of contributors to Wikipedia in our language.
2. Review the amended Copyright Protection Act of 2004 (as amended in 2022), which introduces Partial Freedom of Panorama and establishes the Nigerian Data Protection Act of 2023
3. Examine the role of the Data Protection Act of 2023 in the operation of knowledge in Nigeria.

Participants at the Inaugural Meeting

1. Olaniyan Olushola (Group coordinator)
2. Olatunde Isaac ( Wikimedia UG Nigeria)
3. Dr. Nke Osagwe ( African Library & Information Associations & Institutions )
4. Tochi Precious ( Igbo Wikimedians User Group)
5. Ammar Abdulhamid ( Hausa Wikimedians User Group)
6. Mikaeel Adeshina
7. Kayode Yussuf ( Wikimedia UG Nigeria)
8. Ceslauce Ogbonaya ( Igbo Wikimedians User Group)
9. Levi Kambali ( Tyap Wikimedians User Group)
10. Rhoda James ( Secretary)

Learn more and get in touch on Meta-wiki.