Lagos State Partners with Wikimedia to Digitally Preserve Cultural Heritage

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, has launched a webinar and writing contest under the Wiki Imagine Lagos initiative. This commendable project seeks to digitally preserve Lagos State’s rich cultural heritage, tourist attractions, and historical sites while promoting sustainable tourism development.

In his welcome address, the Secretary to the Wikimedia Nigeria Board of Trustees, Dr. Isaac Olatunde, officially onboarded attendees and emphasised Wikimedia Nigeria’s commitment to documenting Lagos’ culture and history.

The initiative encompasses a range of activities, including photo and content submission contests, thematic edit-a-thons to improve Wikipedia articles on Lagos, and the placement of customised plaques with embedded Wikipedia URLs at tourist sites.

A key milestone is the appointment of a Wikipedia-In-Residence at the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture — the first of its kind in Nigeria and across Africa. This position conducted a Needs Assessment that revealed over 70% of Lagos State’s 163 heritage resources are absent from Wikipedia. To address this, the project leverages Wikipedia’s global reach as the world’s most-referenced encyclopedia.

To set the initiative in motion, a webinar was organised to engage heritage stakeholders and strategise on improving Wikipedia documentation. Additionally, a writing contest was launched to encourage Nigerian journalists to create stories on overlooked Lagos heritage sites, which will serve as references for Wikipedia articles.

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The contest offers cash prizes of ₦500,000, ₦300,000, and ₦200,000 for the top three entries, with digital certificates for other outstanding submissions. Selected articles will be incorporated into Wikipedia during edit-a-thons, enhancing visibility for Lagos’ cultural and historical assets.

The partnership supports Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on creating inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban settlements. By utilising Wikipedia’s global platform, this project aims to showcase Lagos State’s unique historic heritage sites and economic vibrancy to an international audience.

The highlight of the webinar was a panel discussion moderated by Airat Abdul Rahmon, Broadcast Journalist at Voice of Nigeria. The panel featured five strategic contributors:

Mrs Adetoke Benson Awosika, Honourable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture

Olusola Olaniyan, Chairperson, Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation Inc.

Pelu Awofeso, CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Awardee

Okorie Uguru, Publisher of Africa Travel Herald and Former PRO of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN)

Mevin Iteghete, Information Technologist

The panellists shared insights from their expertise, underscoring the initiative’s potential to position Lagos as a cultural and tourism hub.

Chairman of Wikimedia Nigeria, Ambassador Olusola Olaniyan, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, describing it as a significant step in bridging culture, technology, and development. This digital preservation effort marks a pivotal advancement in safeguarding Lagos State’s heritage and promoting its global recognition.