By Mmedaramfon Umoren
Reporter
Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopaedia, has partnered three Nigerian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – CEE-HOPE, Arise Nigerian Women, and Women of Rubies – to highlight the achievements of women in Africa’s most populous nation.
The NGOs, which focus on women, were unveiled at an edit-a-thon event at Goethe Institute, Lagos.
They were selected to have their works and those of fellow women profiled on various Wikimedia platforms and websites, including Wikipedia and WikimediaCommons.
The project titled “Wiki Loves Women” is carried out by WikiAfrica in collaboration with Goethe Institute, Germany’s cultural foundation.
It is a multi-country, multi-faceted project which encourages the contribution of content that celebrates the influence of women leaders, and reflects the reality faced by women and girls across Africa.
“We are glad,” said Olaniyan Olushola, director, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN) and Project Lead, Wiki Loves Women in Nigeria, “to see how exciting and how successful this initiative has been so far in Nigeria and the responses of the various organisations.
“We remain committed to the core objectives of Wikimedia Foundation which is making every single person on the planet to have free access to the sum of all human knowledge.
“In celebrating our women through this process, we are ensuing that no stone is left unturned or gap unfilled.”
The partnership comes as a result of long-term research that showed the yawning gender imbalance in representation on a platform with a monthly average of 500 million visitors.
“For us at Rubies Ink and Women of Rubies, we believe in the power of celebrating women as well as collaboration and network.
“Wiki Loves Women has made this easy with its platform, thereby giving every woman a voice and presence both nationally and globally,” said Women of Rubies’ founder, Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye.
Abimbola Junaid of Arise Nigerian Women added: “The opportunity to increase the visibility of Nigerian women in governance and politics via Wiki Loves Women and its partners is unique to our goal of institutionalising gender mainstreaming.”
For Betty Abah, executive director of CEE-HOPE, a child/girl’s right and empowerment NGO, it is a golden opportunity.
“What other time to showcase the accomplishments and potentials of African women, and to get fellow women involved in the process than now?
“What other time than now when, in Nigeria for instance, we cannot pass the Equality Bill because many, including our lawmakers, cannot yet grapple the place of women in modern day society?
“What other time than now to showcase the African woman who, against all odds, has remained sayers and doers?
“Kudos to Wikipedia for a golden and definitely most timely initiative. CEE-HOPE deeply appreciates our selection,” Abah said.
Florence Devouard, former Chair of Wikimedia Foundation and co-manager of Wiki Loves Women with Isla Haddow-Flood, said: “In spite of progress made to address inequalities, there remains a systemic bias against profiling women and the issues they face.
“The partnership between Wikimedia UG, CEE-HOPE, Women of Rubies and Arise Nigerian Women is a wonderful achievement which empowers a small group of committed citizens to restore balance and make the world a much better place.”