The Wiki-Imagine Lagos Webinar brought together journalists, tourism experts, and cultural enthusiasts to explore the role of journalism in promoting and preserving Lagos’ rich cultural heritage. This virtual session featured an engaging panel discussion, insightful presentations, and the official launch of the Wiki-Imagine Lagos Writing Contest.

The writing contest is part of the larger Wiki-Imagine Lagos initiative, conceptualised by Hon. Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in collaboration with Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation, the local affiliate of Wikimedia Foundation, owners of Wikipedia—the world most referenced online encyclopedia.

The initiative aims to digitally document Lagos’ underrepresented cultural landmarks, festivals, and tourist sites. Dr. Isaac Olatunde, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia Nigeria, opened the session by reaffirming Wikimedia Nigeria’s dedication to preserving Lagos’ culture and history. Barakat Adegboye, the project’s Wikimedian-in-Residence and Webinar host, presented an overview of the Wiki-Imagine Lagos Project.

She highlighted the project’s mission to document Lagos’ tourism assets on Wikipedia, ensuring global accessibility and visibility. She further introduced the “Wiki-Imagine Lagos Writing Contest”, encouraging journalists to publish articles in notable media outlets that spotlight Lagos’ underrepresented heritage. The contest will run until November 30, 2024; the event organiser will reward the top three publications.

The webinar’s panel discussion, moderated by Hairat Abdul-Rahmon, featured insights from prominent experts: ⁠Ambassador Olaniyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation, described the initiative as a groundbreaking project to document Lagos’ over 160 tourism assets digitally. He emphasised that over 70 per cent of these resources require media spotlighting, which has reduced their public awareness. The initiative includes embedding QR codes at heritage sites, which links visitors to detailed Wikipedia pages. “This is not just about improving visibility; it’s about empowering youth, fostering cultural pride, and amplifying Lagos’ global presence,” he said.

CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Awardee, Pelu Awofeso, hailed the project as a historic move to showcase Lagos’ cultural vibrancy. He emphasised the need to make heritage sites more accessible and better documented. Publisher of Africa Travel Herald Okorie Uguru, highlighted the media’s critical role in promoting Lagos’ tourism and called for digitising archival stories to enrich Lagos’ digital presence, while ⁠ Information Technologist, Melvin Iteghete, praised the project as a transformative model for using technology to bridge tourism gaps and enhance global access to Lagos’ cultural sites.
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Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, emphasised journalism’s global reach as an invaluable tool for amplifying Lagos’ tourism assets. “This partnership with Wikimedia User Group Nigeria ensures that Lagos’ cultural heritage is preserved and appreciated worldwide,” she said.

The Ministry of Tourism has been identifying key tourist sites and installing plaques with historical details, supported by Wikimedia’s technological expertise. This collaboration promises to revolutionise how locals and visitors experience Lagos’ rich heritage.