By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Young people in Anambra State, Nigeria and across Africa have been urged to deepen their digital literacy, strengthen their online research abilities, and take ownership of telling the African story in the global knowledge space.
This formed the central message at the maiden Wiki Classroom Initiative, a special digital-skills training programme organised by the Wikimedia Foundation, in collaboration with Africa and Proud, for students of secondary schools in Anambra State, particularly within the Awka metropolis.
The two-day training programme, which kicked off at Redeemers International High School, Awka, climaxed over the weekend at St. Patrick’s College, Awka, where enthusiastic students engaged in knowledge-loaded sessions that exposed them to the process of navigating, using, and contributing responsibly to Wikipedia and its sister projects.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that the training, which featured hands-on demonstrations, interactive learning modules, and guided editing exercises, introduced the students to the principles of online research, digital responsibility, sourcing credible information, and using open-knowledge platforms to share verifiable content. The students were also introduced to the broader Wikimedia ecosystem and shown how Wikipedia supports academic work, how to identify credible sources, as well as how young Africans can use the platform to document their communities, cultures, and histories for global visibility.
It was further gathered that the highly-welcomed initiative, which was the first of its kind in schools in the state, is part of Wikimedia’s broader drive to take free knowledge, digital empowerment, and media-literacy education directly to schools, with the goal of nurturing a generation of young Africans who are competent digital citizens and active contributors to global information spaces.
Speaking in an interview with this reporter shortly after the training, the facilitator, Okoloneli Chekwube Anselm (popularly known in the Wikimedia community as Senator Choko) explained that the Wiki Classroom is designed to equip students with foundational digital skills, strengthen their critical-thinking abilities, and show them how Wikipedia can complement their academic work.
He noted that the Wikimedia Foundation, working with African partners, is deliberately taking these trainings to schools so that young people can learn to tell authentic African stories, counter misinformation, and build confidence in navigating digital tools.
He further highlighted that Wikipedia operates through volunteers who collaborate to curate open knowledge. According to him, Wikimedia hosts a range of sister projects, including Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, Wiktionary, Wikisource, Wikibooks, Wikiversity, and others — with each serving a key purpose in global information sharing. He emphasised that Nigerian volunteers also operate through recognised affiliates such as the Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, alongside Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa language user groups in the wiki space.
Assessing the students’ response, Senator Choko expressed confidence that the participants were eager to apply the skills gained, add value to the digital space, and leverage Wikipedia for research, content creation, and global exposure. He described the training as vital, especially in this era when digital proficiency has become an essential survival tool for young people.
In her own reaction, 15-year-old SS2 student of St. Patrick’s College, Ifunanya Okafor, who hails from Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state, said the training opened her eyes to the possibilities of using her writing skills to tell African stories accurately, promote her cultural identity, and curb misinformation. She added that learning about verification processes, opportunities, benefits, and global experiences available within the Wikimedia ecosystem further increased her interest in joining the Network soonest.
Also speaking, another SS2 student, Chidebe Chidera Henry from Nkwelle-Ezunaka, described the programme as eye-opening, saying it taught him the structure of Wikipedia, how it functions, why Africans must actively document their stories, and how digital communities can offer scholarships, global exposure, and opportunities for young people. While commending the organizers for visionary initiative, he expressed strong interest in joining Wikimedians in Nigeria, subject to his parents’ approval.
With the successes recorded at the maiden edition, the organisers say the Wiki Classroom Initiative will be extended to more schools in Anambra and other parts of Nigeria. The long-term goal, they added, is to empower thousands of students with the skills required to thrive in the digital age, tackle misinformation, and strengthen Africa’s voice on the global knowledge map.
The programme, it was gathered, also aligns with the global objective of promoting equal access to information, nurturing young digital citizens, and raising a new generation of storytellers who can preserve and share Africa’s history, culture, and innovations on an international scale and global platforms like Wikipedia and its sister projects.
The training program, which featured distribution of Wiki Classroom-branded writing materials to the participants, was also witnessed by other active voices in the Wiki platforms, including Mrs. Chinwendu Peace Akwugo (Trainer); Rev. Fr, Pascal Udo (the Manager, St Patrick College, Awka); as well as Mrs. Adibe Adaora (the Principal
Redeemer’s International High School, Okpuno); among others.
The initiative also has the strong backings of Richard Edozie, Kolawole Oyewole (Co-founders, African & Proud, and Developers of the Wikiclassroom project); Goodluck Ajunwa (Experienced Wikimedian Sponsor – African and Proud Organization).
More photos from the event:
