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By Madu Obi
The Wikimedia Anambra Network, a subsidiary of the Wikimedia User Group, Nigeria and the Anambra State ICT Agency, have commenced the mapping out of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), streets and markets in Anambra State for inclusion in the renowned Wikidata.
President of Wikimedia Network in Anambra State, Dr. Ngozi Osuchukwu
said the organization was committed to providing the state with global visibility to attract investment opportunities, and drive development advancements across all sectors of the state.
Osuchukwu spoke at the opening of a two-week training programme titled, "Building the Repositories of Sectors in Anambra State for Knowledge and Sustained Data: Mapping out all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Streets and Markets in Anambra state on Wikidata."
According to her, the decision followed findings indicating the state's 'conspicuous lagging' in Wikidata, assuring the group's effort in changing the narrative by showcasing the state's wealth of information and opportunities on the world's largest encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
She said: "Wikidata is a repository of information where items, sectors, fields, organisations, as well as their location pictures worth knowing, are compiled so people can easily locate them on the Google map.
"Anambra State is conspicuously lagging behind in wikidata. As a big state and light of the nation, it should not be found wanting when it comes to visibility in the country and across the globe.
"Our target is to ensure that the state is prominent and visible for the world to know everything about the state. Remember that Anambra has the largest market in West Africa.
These and more are what we want to showcase.
"For this particular activity, we are targeting a minimum of 150 markets out of the over 400 markets we have in the state."
Expressing optimism over the trainees' active participation in documenting all sectors of the state, Osuchukwu said the training would offer them opportunity to build their skills in Wikidata and ignite their interests towards adding more value to themselves and society.
The Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on MDA Support, Mr. Castro Ideke, commended the initiative, describing it as laudable and one that would undoubtedly place Anambra on the global map.
Ideke, who represented the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra ICT Agency, Mr. Fred Agbata, said the agency will do its best to support the exercise by ensuring that only correct and authentic data were put out.
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