By Abiodun Jimoh
In a groundbreaking effort to preserve and promote Lagos’ rich cultural heritage, the Wiki-Imagine Lagos Webinar brought together journalists, tourism experts, and cultural enthusiasts for a virtual session that explored the role of media in cultural preservation. The event also marked the launch of the Wiki-Imagine Lagos Writing Contest, aimed at spotlighting the state’s underrepresented cultural landmarks and traditions.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation, seeks to digitally document Lagos’ unique heritage on Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopedia. The project was conceived by Hon. Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in partnership with Wikimedia Nigeria, the local affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation.
Dr. Isaac Olatunde, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia Nigeria, kicked off the event by emphasizing the importance of preserving Lagos’ history and culture. Barakat Adegboye, the Wikimedian-in-Residence and webinar host, provided an overview of the initiative, highlighting the goal to document over 160 tourism assets and cultural sites, many of which are currently underrepresented online.
She also introduced the “Wiki-Imagine Lagos Writing Contest,” which encourages journalists to publish articles about Lagos’ cultural treasures in notable media outlets. The contest, running until November 30, 2024, will reward the top three entries with special recognition and prizes.
A lively panel discussion moderated by Hairat Abdul-Rahmon featured insights from key experts:
Ambassador Olaniyan, Chairman of Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation, described the initiative as a transformative step towards increasing global awareness of Lagos’ heritage. He revealed plans to integrate QR codes at heritage sites, linking visitors to detailed Wikipedia pages.
Pelu Awofeso, an award-winning journalist, hailed the project as a historic opportunity to spotlight Lagos’ cultural vibrancy and called for greater accessibility and documentation of heritage sites.
Okorie Uguru, Publisher of Africa Travel Herald, urged the media to play a critical role in digitizing archival stories to enhance Lagos’ digital footprint.
Melvin Iteghete, an information technologist, praised the use of technology to bridge gaps in tourism and expand global access to Lagos’ cultural assets.
Hon. Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka highlighted the collaboration as a means to preserve and amplify Lagos’ culture worldwide. She stated, “This partnership ensures that Lagos’ heritage is not only documented but celebrated globally.”
The Ministry of Tourism has already started installing plaques with historical details at key tourist sites, supported by Wikimedia’s technological expertise.
The session concluded with a call to action by Barakat Adegboye, urging attendees to participate in the contest and contribute to documenting Lagos’ cultural legacy on Wikipedia.
For more details on the Wiki-Imagine Lagos Writing Contest, visit [https://bit.ly/40NGrRr] or follow the initiative on social media.
