1Lib1Ref 2026 Campaign in Nigeria

The 2026 edition of the #1Lib1RefNG campaign was held from 1 June to 30 June 2026 by Wikimedia User Group Nigeria as part of the global #1Lib1Ref (One Librarian, One Reference) initiative. The campaign aimed to improve the quality, reliability, and verifiability of Wikipedia by encouraging librarians, Wikimedians, and knowledge enthusiasts across Nigeria to add missing citations to Wikipedia articles.This year’s campaign combined a nationwide editing contest with community-led edit-a-thons, complemented by virtual and in-person training sessions that equipped both new and experienced contributors with the skills needed to make impactful contributions. Activities and Engagement Virtual Office Hour A virtual office hour was held on 13 June 2026 to onboard new participants, provide editing guidance, and respond to questions about the campaign. The interactive session helped participants understand how to identify citation gaps and contribute effectively to Wikipedia. In-Person Training On 24th June 2026, an in-person training was organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Kaduna State Chapter, at Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The training introduced participants to citation best practices using the citation hunt tool, Wikipedia editing, and the goals of the #1Lib1Ref campaign. Community Edit-a-thons Community networks and fanclubs across Nigeria organized local edit-a-thons with support from the Community Micro Grants program, enabling wider participation across different regions. Active networks such as the Abuja Network, Gombe Network, Kaduna Network and Imo Network, among others, demonstrating the campaign’s nationwide reach. Campaign Winners To qualify for the competition, participants registered on the Outreach Dashboard and tracked their contributions using both the #1Lib1Ref and #1Lib1RefNG hashtags. Top Contributors - Prizes1st Place: ₦100,000 Gift Voucher - 2nd Place: ₦70,000 Gift Voucher - 3rd Place: ₦50,000 Gift Voucher - 1st Place: Muhdavdullahi 90.19 points - 2nd Place: Sardeeq 84.89 points - 3rd Place: Timzy D’Great 65.44 points Campaign Tools The campaign utilized several Wikimedia tools to support participation and track contributions, including: Organizing Team The campaign was coordinated by: Halima Waziri – Co-Lead, #1Lib1RefNG 2026 Ayokanmi – Programs Director, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Bibisuccess – (Interim Project Officer, WUGN) Conclusion The #1Lib1RefNG 2026 campaign successfully brought together librarians, Wikimedians, and volunteers from across Nigeria to strengthen the reliability of Wikipedia by improving article sourcing. Through training, collaborative editing events, and a nationwide competition, the campaign reinforced the important role of librarians and open knowledge advocates in ensuring access to trustworthy and verifiable information. Can you help us translate this article? In order for this article to reach as many people as possible we would like your help. Can you translate this article to get the message out? Start translation