November 19, (THEWILL) – The Wiki-Imagine Lagos Webinar on Thursday brought together journalists, tourism experts, and cultural enthusiasts to spotlight the critical role of journalism in promoting and preserving Lagos State’s rich cultural heritage.
A key highlight of the virtual event was the official launch of the Wiki-Imagine Lagos Writing Contest, designed for travel writers and enthusiasts.
The contest is part of the broader Wiki-Imagine Lagos Initiative, spearheaded by Lagos State’s Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, in partnership with the Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation, the local affiliate of Wikimedia Foundation, owners of Wikipedia, the world’s most referenced online encyclopedia.
The initiative seeks to digitally document Lagos’ underrepresented cultural landmarks, festivals, and tourist attractions, leveraging journalism and technology to boost global visibility.
Declaring the session open, Dr. Isaac Olatunde, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia Nigeria, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to preserving Lagos’ culture and history.
Barakat Adegboye, the project’s Wikimedian-in-Residence and webinar host, provided an overview of the project, highlighting its mission to document Lagos’ tourism assets on Wikipedia, ensuring their accessibility and visibility worldwide.
She also introduced the writing contest, encouraging journalists to publish articles that spotlight Lagos’ underrepresented heritage in notable media outlets.
The contest will run until November 30, 2024, with prizes of ₦500,000, ₦300,000, and ₦200,000 for the top three entries.
The webinar featured a panel discussion moderated by Hairat Abdul-Rahmon, with contributions from notable experts.
Chairman of Wikimedia Nigeria’s Board of Trustees, Ambassador Olaniyan, described the initiative as groundbreaking, revealing that over 160 tourism assets in Lagos have been identified, with more than 70% requiring greater media coverage.
The project includes embedding QR codes at heritage sites, providing visitors with direct access to detailed Wikipedia pages.
“This is not just about improving visibility; it’s about empowering youth, fostering cultural pride, and amplifying Lagos’ global presence,” Olaniyan said.
A CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Awardee, Pelu Awofeso, lauded the project as a historic move to showcase Lagos’ cultural vibrancy while calling for better documentation and accessibility of heritage sites.
Okorie Uguru, Publisher of Africa Travel Herald, emphasized the media’s critical role in promoting tourism and advocated for the digitization of archival stories to enrich Lagos’ digital footprint.
An Information Technology expert, Melvin Iteghete, praised the initiative for using technology to bridge gaps in Lagos’ tourism sector.
State Commissioner Benson-Awoyinka highlighted the global reach of journalism as a powerful tool to amplify Lagos’ tourism assets. She emphasized that the partnership with Wikimedia ensures Lagos’ cultural heritage is preserved and appreciated globally.
“This collaboration promises to revolutionize how locals and visitors experience Lagos’ rich heritage,” she added, noting the ministry’s ongoing efforts to identify key tourist sites and provide historical plaques supported by Wikimedia’s expertise.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Barakat Adegboye, urging attendees to participate in the writing contest and contribute to documenting Lagos’ cultural treasures on Wikipedia.
The Wiki-Imagine Lagos Writing Contest remains open, offering travel writers and cultural enthusiasts an opportunity to highlight the state’s hidden gems while competing for substantial rewards.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
