By Ihechukwuu Sunday
The Wikimedia community in Nigeria has inaugurated a public policy advocacy team to kick start its public policy advocacy initiatives.
According to the Coordinator, Olaniyan Olusila, the initiative is aimed at envisioning and engaging social change in public policies and human rights, as well as enhancing a friendly internet environment for open knowledge.
He said the group intends to engage relevant stakeholders within the country’s open knowledge space, and provide information about ongoing and future activities, opportunities, and challenges related to the impact of public policies on open knowledge in the country.
He noted that the group’s philosophy includes change advocates, support groups and community drive. “The change advocate will be in the form of influencing policy changes to promote open knowledge in the country. The supporting group will support all Nigerian Wikimedia affiliates in public policy changes and needs, while the community drive will drive the initiatives.
“Its objectives are to raise awareness by exploring the practical benefits of open knowledge and how it can enhance the daily lives and work of Nigerians, as well as educate Nigerians, including multinationals, and government agencies about these benefits and their importance.
“In the area of advocacy, it will push for policies that promote and protect open access to information, data, and research, as well as capacity building to equip individuals and organisations with the necessary skills and tools to create, share, and utilise open knowledge effectively.
“In terms of collaboration, it will join the government’s agencies, educational institutions, nongovernmental organisations and the private sector, to advance open knowledge initiatives, making everyone feel included in this vital work. In terms of innovation, it will provide solutions that leverage open knowledge for societal progress, inspiring hope for a brighter future,” he stated.
“The group will also engage policymakers at local, state, and federal levels to advocate for legislation and policies that promote open access to government’s data, research publications, and educational resources. It will equally engage in capacity-building workshops to conduct training sessions for students, researchers, educators, and government officials on open data management and open-source software,”he added.
For community outreach, he said the group would collaborate with local communities to create open educational resources, such as textbooks, lesson plans, and multimedia content, including research and development, by supporting research projects that explore the impact of open knowledge on economic development, education, healthcare, and governance in Nigeria.
The group, according to him, would organise edit-a-thons and innovation challenges to encourage the development of open-source solutions that address societal challenges in Nigeria
In terms of structure, he noted that the group would review and assess the National Language Policy of 2022 to evaluate its level of implementation and its potential impact on the quality and participation of contributors to Wikipedia in Nigerian language.
“It will also 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 and equally examines the role of the Data Protection Act of 2023 in the operation of knowledge in Nigeria,” he said.
In attendance at the inaugural meeting of the initiative were representatives of the Nigeria Wikimedia affiliates, public policy experts and community members and participants, including Olaniyan Olushola (Group coordinator), Olatunde Isaac (Wikimedia UG Nigeria), Dr. Nkem Osuigwe (African Library & Information Associations & Institutions), Tochi Precious (Igbo Wikimedia User Group), Ammar Abdulhamid (Hausa Wikimedian User Group), Mikaeel Adeshina, Kayode Yussuf (Wikimedia UG Nigeria), Ceslauce Ogbonaya (Igbo Wikimedia User Group), Levi Kambali (Tyap Wikimedia User Group) and Rhoda James (Secretary).
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Obi prays for God to grant Soludo greater heights Chuks Eze The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo to show humility, gratitude and compassion, following what he described as an ‘unfortunate and bitter’ outburst by the governor. Speaking to journalists at the just-concluded Nigeria Guild of Editors meeting at the NAF Conference Center, Abuja, Obi congratulated Soludo for securing a second tenure and urged him to appreciate God’s mercies by responding to victory with grace rather than resentment. Obi’s remarks came after Soludo provoked controversy during his certificate-of-return ceremony, where he mocked his critics by calling Obi a ‘frustrated politician without a club’ and accused him of damaging the education system in Anambra. “I feel compelled to respond because if I do not, I will be accused of dodging the question,” Obi said, expressing surprise at Soludo’s remarks. “On an occasion meant to celebrate his certificate of return, instead of thanking Almighty God for granting him a second tenure; a moment to demonstrate love and magnanimity, he chose to show bitterness and resentment. It was deeply unfortunate.” Obi clarified his involvement in the recent Anambra election, saying, “I only attended three public events with the Labour Party candidate, strictly where I was invited. At none of these events did I mention anyone by name or meet with traditional rulers, market leaders or any other group to discuss candidates. There was nothing I said to warrant controversy or speculation,” he stressed. Reflecting on the Election Day, Obi recounted how he quietly fulfilled his civic duty, conscious of the weight of responsibility that comes with leadership. “I witnessed irregularities and disruptions that could have easily escalated into chaos,” he said. “When outsiders attempted to cast votes in our community, I stepped in and urged my people to remain calm and allow them to act peacefully. In that moment, I was reminded that integrity must always take precedence over politics. True leadership is measured, not by the contest for power, but by the courage to uphold fairness, restraint and the dignity of our people, even in the most trying circumstances.” Addressing Soludo’s mocking remarks, he used a vivid metaphor from football to clarify his perspective: “On the day of the election, journalists approached me as if I were on the ballot. I reminded them that I served as governor 13 years ago and have since moved on to a higher level in national politics. In football terms, if gubernatorial candidates are in the first division, I am in the Champions League. I ran for Vice President in 2019 and for President in 2023, winning 11 states and Abuja. I play well at that level, and my record speaks for itself.” He also reflected on his age and historic achievements in Anambra State. “In both the old and new Anambra, only Jim Nwobodo and I became governors in our 40s. I was the first to serve a second tenure. I have no personal issue with Governor Soludo. I pray that God grants him even greater heights, if that will inspire him to show humility, compassion and a genuine concern for the people,” he said. He concluded with an appeal, saying, “We must recognise the mercies God grants us. Leadership is not about resentment or bitterness; it is about service, gratitude, and love for our people.”
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