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The Yoruba Wikimedians User Group has formally called for the inclusion of Wikipedia as a core learning and reference tool within Nigeria’s National Digital Literacy Framework. The group believes that integrating Wikipedia into the framework will strengthen critical thinking, research skills, media literacy, and responsible digital participation among learners nationwide.
As an affiliate of the global Wikimedia movement, the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group is committed to promoting free knowledge in the Yoruba language and supporting open, inclusive access to information. The group asserts that Wikipedia, one of the world’s most widely used open educational resources, offers a practical platform for teaching digital skills such as information verification, collaborative content creation, citation practices, and online ethics.
“Digital literacy is not just about accessing information; it is about evaluating, creating, and responsibly sharing knowledge,” said Mr. Mikaeel Sodiq, the President of Yoruba Wikimedians User Group. “Wikipedia provides a real-world environment where learners can practice these essential 21st-century skills while contributing positively to society.”
The group emphasised that incorporating Wikipedia into the National Digital Literacy Framework would equip students with skills to identify credible sources and combat misinformation, promote indigenous language content creation, particularly in Yoruba, encourage collaborative learning and civic engagement, and enhance research and writing competencies across educational levels.
The Yoruba Wikimedians User Group also highlighted the importance of local content development in ensuring that Nigeria’s digital transformation reflects its cultural and linguistic diversity. By supporting structured engagement with Wikipedia, educational institutions can empower students not only as consumers of information but also as contributors to global knowledge.
The group called on policymakers, educational stakeholders, and relevant government agencies to consider formal partnerships that would enable training programs, curriculum integration, and educator capacity building around Wikipedia-based learning.
The Yoruba Wikimedians User Group remains committed to working collaboratively with national institutions to advance digital inclusion and knowledge equity in Nigeria.
For the sake of clarity, the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group is a community of volunteers dedicated to promoting the creation and improvement of free knowledge resources in the Yoruba language through Wikimedia projects. The group organises training, outreach, and advocacy initiatives aimed at expanding access to reliable information and fostering digital skills.
