Group launches awareness campaign for Yoruba Wikipedia in Nigeria

By News Proof 

The Yoruba Wikimedians User Group, an affiliate of Wikimedia Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that host Wikipedia, the world largest online encyclopedia has taken an awareness of  the Yoruba version of Wikipedia to Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education in Ijanikin-oto, Lagos State, Nigeria.

The awareness program was aimed at creating awareness for Yoruba language version of Wikipedia and to encourage teachers and students to join other volunteers to build that language pool of knowlege.

The head of department Yoruba sudies of the institution, Dr. Dayo Akanmu in his welcome address expressed his delight to host a program powered by the world renowned online encyclopedia, Wikipedia. He said such initiative will further promote Yorùbá language, studies and culture in Nigeria. The HOD declared his willingness to support the user group anytime the need arises. He told the students to seize what he described as as "raw gold" , saying it will help them in no small way. He therefore thanked the organizers for deeming it fit to first stage the program in the college of education among the higher institutions in Nigeria.

The program was attended by Olaniyan Olushola, the President of Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation Inc. and Foundation's board secretary, Isaac Olatunde. The awareness program was facilitated by Yoruba Wikimedians User Group's president, Mikaeel Sodiq, Dansu Peterand other prominent members of the Yoruba Wikipedia community.

Speaking at the event which was held at the college's main auditorium, the President of Yoruba Wikimedians User Group's, Mikaeel Sodiq commended the the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) for its ingenious idea of creating Yoruba Wikipedia among other African languages Wikipedia. He said "This is a huge opportunity to resuscitate our dying local languages and cultures by writing, rewriting and updating them as the need arises". 

He lamented the online absence of written African languages and its contents in its own local orthography despite the internet innovations which has made the world, a global village.  He encouraged the students to grab this golden opportunity so as to bridge the huge gap. He said Yoruba’s Wikipedia will afford students who are studying Yorùbá as a course have access to contents written in the language. He further stated that Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education has set a new pace, being  the first tertiary institution to host such awareness program in Nigeria. 
Also speaking at the event was the President of Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation Inc. He thanked the Head of the Department of Yorùbá Language Studies, Dr. Akanmu , the students, especially the association of Yoruba students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Ijanikin-oto for their acceptance to host the awareness program in the institution. 

Mikaeel said the awareness program only preceeded other programs which the User group has in stock to bring to the institution. He said series of training will be organized for students and lecturers in the first quater of 2020.

The President of the Association of Yoruba students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin-oto, Nurudeen Babatunde, on behalf of the students thanked the Yorùbá Wikimedians User Group for bringing the program to the college. He said "We are very excited and optimistic to key into the project and make their impact felt as soon as possible. He expressed readiness to join other editors of Yorùbá Wikipedia.

The awareness program which started with procession round the college with musical instruments was well attended by the students, especially, students of Yorùbá department of the institution.  The HOD, with other lecturers in the department later joined at the hall where the students were enlightened about Yoruba Wikipedian.

More photos from the program :