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Random GA Ehengbuda (a.k.a. Edo: Ehengbuda N'Obo, lit. 'Ehengbuda the Physician') was the eighteenth Oba ('king') of the Benin Empire, reigning from approximately c. 1578 – c. 1606. He succeeded his father, Orhogbua, and maintained Benin's influence through warfare and diplomacy. His reign included military engagements against neighbouring powers such as the Oyo Empire, resulting in a treaty that established the Benin-Oyo frontier at Otun in present-day Ekiti State. Ehengbuda also asserted Benin's control over vassal Yoruba states such as Owo, where the local ruler was required to continue paying tribute to the Oba. Though contact with Europeans persisted during his reign, claims of diplomatic exchanges—such as the gift of a telescope—lack independent verification. His rule is considered the end of the era of warrior kings in Benin, with military leadership subsequently delegated to high-ranking chiefs. (Full article...) Akengbuda was the thirtieth Oba ('king') of the Kingdom of Benin whose reign is generally dated from about 1750 until about 1804. His personal name was Ogiomo, and he was the eldest son of Oba Eresoyen. His reign followed a period of earlier civil conflict and is associated with renewed political stability, economic recovery, active commerce at Ughoton, and continued development of Benin court art, including bronze Iyoba ('queen mother') heads and carved ancestral ivories. Akengbuda maintained the Edaiken ('crown prince') succession system and is remembered as the last Oba to carry out yomo y'isi while still alive. European visitors, including Jean-François Landolphe, encountered Benin during his reign and described a peaceful and wealthy kingdom, while later scholarship uses these accounts to support the chronology of the late eighteenth-century monarchy. (Full article...) Ewedo (born Efabo, reigned c. 1255 – c. 1280) was the fourth Oba ('king') of the Kingdom of Benin. He was born to a woman connected to the royal line but raised among the Ilaje at Ugho‑Mahin before returning to Benin, where he was crowned Oba under the regnal name Ewedo. His accession involved conflict with the Uzama Nihinron, whose influence he reduced by relocating the royal palace from Usama to its present site in Benin City, an episode commemorated in traditions of the Battle of Ekiokpagha. During his reign, Ewedo introduced political and administrative reforms, including new court rituals, restrictions on chiefly authority, and the development of a structured hierarchy of palace officials. He is also associated with cultural changes such as the introduction of Ewini music into royal ceremonies and with a shift toward territorial expansion supported by new military practices. His administration established laws, offices, and ceremonial practices that contributed to the consolidation of monarchical power. Ewedo died around 1280 after a reign of about twenty‑five years and was succeeded by his son Oguola. (Full article...) Owodo (r. 1125–1130, d. c. 1133) was the thirty-first Ogiso ('King') of the pre-imperial Benin kingdom of Igodomigodo and the last ruler of the Ohuede dynasty, succeeding his father, Arigho. According to traditions recorded by historian Osarẹn Ọmọregie, his rule began during recovery from a prolonged famine but was dominated by palace factionalism, disruptive attacks from Osogan and a high-profile domestic scandal that led to the exile (and, in some accounts, the attempted execution) of his son Ikaladerhan. Conflict with the Edionnisen ('Great Nobles') and public outrage after Owodo struck and killed a noble's pregnant widow, an act considered Kirikuvua under the kingdom's law and punishable by deposition, prompted an emergency council meeting to declare him unfit to rule. He was deposed and exiled to Ihinmwirin, where he died in obscurity three years later. His removal ended the Ohuede dynasty and the Ogiso era. It paved the way for the arrival of Prince Oranmiyan from Ile-Ife and the establishment of the Oba monarchy by Oranmiyan's son, Eweka I. (Full article...) Edo literature includes both written and oral works in the Edo language by the Edo people of Nigeria. It has its origins in precolonial times and has evolved over time. The literature is a reflection of Edo culture and it includes various periods, genres, and authors. It is rooted in traditional expressions such as brass-casting, wood carving, and pictorial writing. The written form became more prominent during the colonial era with the adoption of the Roman script. Folk songs are a part of Edo literature and are a part of Edo cultural heritage. These songs serve as repositories of historical narratives, moral teachings, and cultural expressions. (Full article...) The Muslim–Muslim ticket in Nigerian politics refers to the selection of both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the Islamic faith. The practice is connected to Nigeria's history of religious, regional, and ethnic balancing in executive politics. This theme has affected candidate selection since independence in 1960. Scholars note that constitutional provisions requiring both a plurality of votes and a broad geographic spread encourage religiously mixed tickets, yet same-faith pairings have appeared at certain points in Nigeria's political development. Documented instances of Muslim–Muslim tickets include the 1964 election in the Western Region and the 1993 Nigerian presidential election, when Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe, both Muslims, won a contest that was later annulled. More commonly, parties have combined candidates of different faiths, as with the National Party of Nigeria's 1979 ticket of Shehu Shagari, a northern Muslim, and Alex Ekwueme, a southern Christian. In recent decades, choices over ticket composition have always embodied efforts to balance regional appeal, religious considerations, and perceptions of inclusion. (Full article...) The Benin Moat (Edo: Iyanuwo), also known as the Benin City Iya, the Inner City Iya of Benin or the Wall of Benin, is a large earthwork within Benin City in Nigeria's Edo state, which formerly encircled the city at the time of the Benin Empire. (Full article...) Arigho (c. 1121 – c. 1125) was the fourth ruler of the Ohuede dynasty and the thirtieth ogiso (king) of Igodomigodo, an early kingdom that later became part of the Benin Empire. Born into an urban, commercial household and trained in metalwork and trade, he was familiar with the kingdom's monetary systems before his accession. Arigho took the throne amid the Great Famine and high inflation and responded with fiscal rather than military measures, most notably the controversial Igho Arigho ("double-payment") taxation scheme and the appointment of royal officials to enforce it. The policy enlarged the royal treasury and helped moderate prices and re-engage nobles, but its effects were undercut by the contemporaneous Osogan crisis and disruptions to trade. (Full article...) Ehenneden, also spelled Hennenden, (born Egiebo, reigned c. 1095 – c. 1110) was the twenty-sixth Ogiso (king) of Igodomigodo, the early state that preceded the Benin Empire. His reign is documented as having involved economic expansion, administrative restructuring, and increased activity among guilds and artisans. Ehenneden strengthened the role of royal guilds in weaving, carving, and trade, which contributed to production and commerce. He also reorganised the Edionnisen ("Great Nobles"), granting them the authority to appoint sub-chiefs, oversee regional courts, and construct noble residences, actions that contributed to the governance structure. Following his death without a direct heir, succession disputes arose; ultimately, the Edionnisen selected Ohuede, a distant royal relative, as his successor, thereby marking the end of the Oriagba dynasty. (Full article...) Ohen was the eighth Oba ('king') of the Kingdom of Benin who reigned in the 14th century, generally dated to c. 1334 – c. 1370. He succeeded Udagbedo and was later succeeded by his eldest son, Egbeka after his death at about 1370. Historical writings, oral traditions, and ritual performances associate his reign with palace conflict, disability, guild reforms, and the development of Benin ceremonial traditions. Benin court art depicts mudfish-legged royal figures that are often associated with Ohen, although scholars have also interpreted the motif more broadly as an image of divine kingship, Olokun-linked power, royal dependence on elite support, and warning against the abuse of monarchical authority. According to traditional accounts, Ohen became paralysed after many years on the throne and concealed his condition from the court by arranging for attendants to carry him into council chambers before chiefs arrived. His disability was later discovered by the Iyase, a leading military chief, whose subsequent execution reportedly provoked unrest that ended in Ohen's death by stoning. Oral traditions and later scholarship connect these events with ideas about divine kingship, legitimacy, and political tensions involving the Ogiamiẹn lineage. (Full article...) Udagbedo (reigned c. 1299 – c. 1334) was the seventh Oba ('king') of the Kingdom of Benin. He succeeded his brother, Oba Edoni. During his reign, he implemented agricultural reforms, expanded the kingdom’s territory, and established trade contacts via Saharan trade and later with European states. His rule coincided with the first recorded migration of the Ga from Benin to present-day Ghana, an event seen as evidence of Benin’s regional influence. Oral traditions refer to him as "Olagbeno" and place him at the center of the transition from the Ogiso dynasty to the Obaship. Primary accounts of Udagbedo's life and reign derive from Jacob Egharevba’s A Short History of Benin, which relies heavily on oral sources. Scholars such as Philip Dark, A.F.C. Ryder, and John Fage have noted its cultural significance while advising caution regarding its chronology and integration of oral tradition with written records. (Full article...) Ewuare (also known as Ewuare the Great; r. c. 1440 – c. 1473) was the twelfth Oba ('king') of the Kingdom of Benin. He was born Ogun, a son of Ohen, and spent part of his early life away from the Benin capital. He took the throne after killing his brother Uwaifiokun and assumed the regnal name Ewuare. Edo traditions connect his birth and youth with the Ekoko n'Utẹ, a palace masquerade performance involving masked dancers, and with the market woman Emotan and conflicts involving the Ogiamiẹn lineage. Ewuare rebuilt and enlarged the Benin capital, extended its walls and ditches, and reorganised the kingdom's government. He strengthened offices directly connected to the Oba and introduced lineal succession through the title Edaiken ('crown prince'). His reign is also associated with the organisation of palace departments, service wards, and institutions. (Full article...) Snap Judgments: New Positions in Contemporary African Photography was a 2006 exhibition curated by Okwui Enwezor which exhibited from March 10 to May 28 at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York. It presented recent work by African photographers and artists working across photography, video, installation, and performance documentation. The exhibition featured more than 200 works by artists from Africa and the diaspora, and examined themes of identity, urbanisation, colonial legacies, and global interconnections. The exhibition was widely discussed for its challenge to Western visual stereotypes of Africa, its critique of "Afro-pessimism", and also its presentation of multiple perspectives on African identity and photographic practice. (Full article...) The Akure–Benin War of 1818 was a conflict between the Benin and Akure in what is now southwestern Nigeria. Its origins are connected to earlier political and cultural developments in the region, where Akure emerged from settlements associated with the Ife cultural sphere and later consolidated under Prince Omoremilekun, regarded in tradition as a descendant of Oduduwa. The relations between Benin and Akure prior to the conflict are recorded as stable. (Full article...) Charles Obadiah Nimma Wambebe CON, OFR (8 August 1946 – 9 November 2022) was a Nigerian professor of pharmacology who served as the director-general/chief executive officer of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in Abuja. He contributed to the development of Niprisan, a phytomedicine for sickle cell disorder management, which led to The World Academy of Sciences Award in Medical Sciences. He also worked as a consultant in traditional medicine for various international organisations and held professorships at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and Makerere University in Uganda. (Full article...) Orhogbua (reigned c. 1550 – c. 1578) was the seventeenth Oba ('king') of the Kingdom of Benin, succeeding his father Esigie. He was exposed to Christianity and Portuguese education in his youth, including baptism and instruction in Portuguese, and later studied abroad in São Tomé and Lisbon before returning to assume the throne instead of pursuing a clerical career. As Oba, he expanded Benin's influence through military campaigns, including actions against tributary communities and the establishment of a military base at Lagos Island (Èkó), where he installed Ashipa as ruler, beginning a dynasty associated with Benin. He maintained trade and diplomatic contact with Europeans, receiving English traders led by Thomas Wyndham in 1553 and facilitating pepper trade through Ughoton, while Christianity declined in royal support during his reign and missionary efforts lost influence. He is also credited with introducing native cooking salt, and died c. 1578, succeeded by his son Ehengbuda. (Full article...) Independence Day is an annual public holiday in Nigeria observed on 1 October to commemorate the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1960. It is celebrated nationwide with official ceremonies, military parades, cultural displays, and other public events. The holiday commemorates the formal transfer of sovereignty that took place in Lagos at midnight on 1 October 1960, when the Union Jack was lowered and replaced with Nigeria's green–white–green flag. Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing Elizabeth II, presented the constitutional instruments of independence, and the new federal government formally assumed authority. Preparations for the inaugural festivities included cultural events, receptions, and the commissioning of new infrastructure. (Full article...) The Ohuede dynasty was a short-lived ruling house in the late Ogiso era of Igodomigodo (the early state that preceded the Kingdom of Benin), lasting from c. 1110 AD – c. 1130 AD. It emerged after Ogiso ('king') Ehenneden died without an heir, leading the Edionnisen ('Great Nobles') to trace succession through collateral branches of the Oriagba line, leading to the accession of Ohuede from the Ihinmwirin lineage. His brief reign established guild-based agricultural organisation and reinforcement of hereditary succession rules. He was succeeded by Ogisos Oduwa, Obioye, Arigho, and Owodo. The dynasty reinforced the principle of primogeniture, but its period was mostly affected by political instability and economic decline. The dynasty collapsed following Owodo's deposition by the Edionnisen after accusations of grave misconduct, ending the Ohuede line and also contributing to the final dissolution of the Ogiso monarchy. (Full article...) Fred Newton Binka (b. 1953) is a Ghanaian public health physician and researcher. He serves as a distinguished professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, Ghana, and has previously coordinated the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Response to Artemisinin Resistance in the Greater Mekong sub-region of Asia. He is the founding vice-chancellor of UHAS and the former executive secretary of the International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health (INDEPTH) Network, a global network of health and demographic surveillance systems. His work in malaria control and health development in Africa, particularly in the areas of vitamin A supplementation, insecticide-treated bed nets, and rotavirus and meningitis vaccination, has been impactful. (Full article...) Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku NNOM OON (20 March 1941 – 13 February 2022) was a Nigerian mathematician and academic, known for his contributions to the fields of algebraic K-theory and non-commutative geometry. Born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, Kuku began his academic journey at Makerere University College and the University of Ibadan, where he earned his B.Sc. in Mathematics, followed by his M.Sc. and Ph.D. under Joshua Leslie and Hyman Bass. His doctoral research focused on the Whitehead group of p-adic integral group-rings of finite p-groups. Kuku held positions as a lecturer and professor at various Nigerian universities, including the University of Ife and the University of Ibadan, where he served as Head of the Department of Mathematics and Dean of the Postgraduate School. His research involved developing methods for computing higher K-theory of non-commutative rings and articulating higher algebraic K-theory in the language of Mackey functors. His work on equivariant higher algebraic K-theory and its generalisations impacted the field. (Full article...) Benin Altar Tusks (Edo: Aken'ni Elao) are ivory artefacts from the Benin Kingdom in present-day Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. These tusks date back to the 16th century and measure approximately 61 inches (1,500 mm) in height, 5.2 inches (130 mm) in width, 4.7 inches (120 mm) in depth, and weighing 25 kilograms (55 lb) according to a sample at the British Museum. The tusks feature carved royal figures in traditional regalia, depicting scenes of power, ritual, and at times, conflict. (Full article...) Africa Remix: Contemporary Art of a Continent was an international touring exhibition of contemporary African art produced between 1994 and 2004. Initiated by Jean-Hubert Martin as a successor to his 1989 exhibition Magiciens de la Terre and directed by chief curator Simon Njami, it presented 137 works by 88 artists from 25 countries, including those in the African diaspora, to challenge the divide between North and sub-Saharan Africa and to offer a broad overview of modern "Africanity". Opening in 2004 at the Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, the exhibition toured the Hayward Gallery in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo before concluding in 2007 at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. Works were grouped into three themes, "Identity and History", "Body and Soul", and "City and Land", with a recurring emphasis on remixing and recycling materials, exemplified by artists such as El Anatsui, Gonçalo Mabunda, and Romuald Hazoumè. It was recognised as the largest exhibition of contemporary African art staged in Europe and the first major survey of its kind in Japan and Africa, receiving both praise for subverting Western expectations of "primitive" art and criticism for its curatorial framework, with some reviewers arguing that the "remix" metaphor and thematic divisions were arbitrary and risked presenting "Africa the logo" for the global art market. (Full article...) Benin–Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria was an international exhibition on the art and culture of the Kingdom of Benin, organised through cooperation between European museums, Nigerian institutions, and the royal court of Benin. Supported by Oba ('king') Erediauwa and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the exhibition assembled about 300 objects from twenty-five lenders and was accompanied by a symposium in Vienna. Between 2007 and 2008, it was shown in Vienna, Paris, Berlin, and Chicago. Edited by Barbara Plankensteiner, the catalogue was published in German, English, and French editions and contained essays by scholars from Europe, Africa, and North America. The exhibition combined thematic and chronological approaches that presented the structure of the Kingdom of Benin, palace institutions, trade, religion, court hierarchy, and the kingdom's historical development from its origins to the twentieth century. It also examined the British expedition to Benin of 1897 and the revival of royal traditions and artistic guilds in the modern era. (Full article...) The Battle of Ekiokpagha was a military conflict that took place in 1255 on the Plains of Ogboka, near Benin City. Its designation as a battle is a mere historical formality as there was no fighting, but Ewedo's forces killed Chief Oliha, a senior ally of Ogiamien. The battle was fought between Ewedo, the recently crowned Oba of Benin, and Ogiamien III, the head of a royal family in the Benin Empire who disputed his claim to the throne. Oba Ewedo was victorious and established his palace at the site of the battle. Ewedo recognised Ogiamien III as a chief under his kingship. (Full article...) Barbara Winston Blackmun (June 29, 1928 – July 6, 2018) was an art historian, professor, and museum director from the United States. She specialized in Nigerian antiquities, including Nok terracottas, the bronzes of Ife, and the bronzes and ivories of the Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria. She was also known for her early use of computer analysis for motif identification (see image analysis) and interpretation in African art. Born in Merced, California, Blackmun pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a teaching certificate at UCLA. She earned her Master of Arts from Arizona State University, focusing on Maravi masks from Malawi, and later completed her PhD at UCLA with a dissertation on the iconography of carved altar tusks from Benin, Nigeria. (Full article...)

Random FA/FL Independence Day is an annual public holiday in Nigeria observed on 1 October to commemorate the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1960. It is celebrated nationwide with official ceremonies, military parades, cultural displays, and other public events. The holiday commemorates the formal transfer of sovereignty that took place in Lagos at midnight on 1 October 1960, when the Union Jack was lowered and replaced with Nigeria's green–white–green flag. Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing Elizabeth II, presented the constitutional instruments of independence, and the new federal government formally assumed authority. Preparations for the inaugural festivities included cultural events, receptions, and the commissioning of new infrastructure. (Full article...) Edo State, situated in Nigeria's southern region, has had various leaders since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, both military and civilian. After independence, Nigeria had only three regions, and the area of the future Edo State was located in the Western Region. The Mid-Western Region was separated from the Western Region in August 1963 and had Dennis Osadebay as its initial Premier. Osadebay served until January 1966, when he was replaced by David Akpode Ejoor, the first military governor. Control of the region was contested during the Biafran War (1967–1970), and Ejoor was replaced by Samuel Ogbemudia. Ogbemudia governed the Mid-Western State from September 1967 to July 1975. The region was renamed and reorganized as the Bendel State on 17 March 1976, its name a combination of the old Benin and Delta provinces. Notable governors during this time period include George Agbazika Innih, Husaini Abdullahi, and Ambrose Folorunsho Alli. Ogbemudia also returned for a three-month stint as a civilian governor in 1983 before the military reasserted control. (Full article...) Abia State, located in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has been governed by a succession of military governors, administrators, and elected governors since its creation in 1991. Before 1991, the area lay within the Eastern Region. After the regional system was dissolved on 27 May 1967 by Major-general Yakubu Gowon during the Nigerian Civil War, the Eastern Region was split into East Central State, Rivers State, and South-Eastern State. East Central State covered much of the Igbo-speaking area until its division on 3 February 1976 under the military regime of Murtala Mohammed. During the East Central State period, Ukpabi Asika served as administrator until 1975, followed by Anthony Ochefu until the state's dissolution to form Anambra and Imo states. From its creation in 1976, Imo State was governed by military appointees: Ndubuisi Kanu (1976–1977), Adekunle Lawal (1977–1978), and Sunday Ajibade Adenihun (1978–1979). With the advent of the Second Republic in October 1979, Samuel Mbakwe of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) served as the first civilian governor from October 1979 to December 1983. Military rule returned by the end of 1983, and between 1984 and 1992 the state was led by Ike Nwachukwu (1984–1985), Allison Madueke (1985–1985), Amadi Ikwechegh (1986–1990), and Anthony Oguguo (1990–1992). (Full article...) Akwa Ibom State, located in the South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has been governed by a succession of military governors, administrators, and elected governors since its creation in 1987. Before 1987, it formed part of the Eastern Region until the military dissolved Nigeria's regional structure in 1967. Following the reorganisation, the area became part of the newly created South-Eastern State on 27 May 1967. The South-Eastern State, comprising the present-day states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, remained under military rule until Nigeria's brief civilian transition in 1979. In 1976, under the Murtala Mohammed administration, South-Eastern State was renamed Cross River State. (Full article...) The national symbols of Nigeria represent the country's identity, heritage, and values, and they include the national flag, coat of arms, anthem, and pledge, as well as the national flower, animal, currency, and other national emblems. The Nigerian flag, designed in 1959 by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, features three vertical stripes of green and white, symbolising agriculture and peace, respectively. The coat of arms, adopted in 1960, includes a black shield with a wavy white pall, symbolising the meeting of the Niger and Benue Rivers, supported by two white horses representing dignity. Above the shield is an eagle, symbolising strength, and beneath it is Nigeria's national motto: "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress". The national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee", first adopted in 1960, relinquished in 1978, and then re-adopted in 2024, calls upon Nigerians to stand in brotherhood and serve their motherland. The national pledge, introduced in 1976, serves as an oath of allegiance and commitment to Nigeria's unity and development. The national flower, Costus spectabilis, symbolises beauty and prosperity, while the national animal, the eagle, reflects the country's strength and vision. The Naira, Nigeria's national currency, was introduced in 1973. Through these symbols, Nigeria's government and its people express their collective pride, uphold their cultural values, and reinforce their commitment to national development and cohesion. (Full article...) Bayelsa State, located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, has been led by colonial, military, and civilian administrations. Before Nigeria's independence in 1960, the territory that now constitutes Bayelsa was part of the Eastern Region, one of Nigeria's original administrative divisions. During the colonial era, British officials governed the Eastern Region, which included the area now known as Bayelsa State, until Nigeria's independence in 1960. Thereafter, Nigerian officials, including Francis Akanu Ibiam as governor and Michael Okpara as premier, administered the region until the first military coup in 1966 which led to the abolition of the regional system. In 1967, Nigeria's military leader Yakubu Gowon split the Eastern Region into three new states: East-Central State, South-Eastern State, and Rivers State. Bayelsa remained part of Rivers State for nearly three decades, under both military and civilian rule. In 1996, the Nigerian military government under Sani Abacha created Bayelsa State, carving it out of Rivers State. (Full article...) Imo State, located in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has been governed by a succession of military governors, administrators, and elected governors since its formation on 3 February 1976, when it was carved out of the former East Central State. This action was part of a nationwide state-creation reform under the military regime of Murtala Mohammed. Before 1976, the area was part of East Central State, which had been created in 1967 when Yakubu Gowon dissolved the Eastern Region during the Nigerian Civil War and split it into East Central State, Rivers State, and South-Eastern State. East Central State covered much of the Igbo-speaking area until its division in 1976. During that period, Ukpabi Asika served as administrator until 1975, followed by Anthony Ochefu until the state's dissolution. From its creation in 1976, Imo State was governed by military appointees: Ndubuisi Kanu (1976–1977), Adekunle Lawal (1977–1978), and Sunday Ajibade Adenihun (1978–1979). With the advent of the Second Republic in October 1979, Samuel Mbakwe of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) served as the first civilian governor from October 1979 to December 1983. Military rule returned by the end of 1983, and between 1984 and 1992 the state was led by Ike Nwachukwu (1984–1985), Allison Madueke (1985–1985), Amadi Ikwechegh (1986–1990), and Anthony Oguguo (1990–1992). (Full article...) Rivers State, located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, has undergone political transformations, influenced by colonial, military, and civilian administrations. Rivers State was originally part of the Eastern Region before Nigeria's independence in 1960. During the colonial era, British officials governed the region until Nigeria's first military coup in 1966, which led to the abolition of the regional system. In 1967, military leader Yakubu Gowon created Rivers State, which remained under military rule until the brief return to civilian governance in 1979. However, another coup in 1983 reinstated military control until Nigeria's full transition to democracy in 1999. (Full article...) Enugu State, located in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has been governed by a succession of military governors, administrators, and elected governors since its creation in 1991. Before 1991, the area lay within the Eastern Region. After the regional system was dissolved on 27 May 1967 by Yakubu Gowon during the Nigerian Civil War, the Eastern Region was split into East Central State, Rivers State, and South-Eastern State. East Central State covered much of the Igbo-speaking area until its division on 3 February 1976 under the military regime of Murtala Mohammed. During the East Central State period, Ukpabi Asika served as administrator until 1975, followed by Anthony Ochefu until the state's dissolution to form Anambra and Imo states. The capital of the dissolved state, Enugu, became the capital of the newly formed Anambra State and later of Enugu State. From its creation in 1976, Anambra State was governed by military appointees: John Atom Kpera (1976–1978) and Datti Sadiq Abubakar (1978–1979). With the advent of the Second Republic in October 1979, Jim Nwobodo of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) served as the first civilian governor from October 1979 to October 1983, succeeded briefly by Christian Onoh of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Military rule returned by the end of 1983, and between 1984 and 1992 the state was led by Allison Madueke (1984–1985), Samson Omeruah (1985–1987), and Robert Akonobi (1987–1990). (Full article...) Cross River State, located in the South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has undergone political changes influenced by colonial rule, military regimes, and democratic transitions. The territory, which was originally under the Eastern Region, was incorporated into the newly created South-Eastern State in 1967 following the dissolution of the regional structure by the military government. In 1967, military leader Yakubu Gowon established South-Eastern State from the Eastern Region as part of a broader state creation effort during the Nigerian Civil War. The state remained under military governance until 1979, when Nigeria transitioned briefly to civilian rule. In 1976, South-Eastern State was renamed Cross River State during the nationwide state reorganisation carried out by the Murtala Mohammed administration. (Full article...) Anambra State, located in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has been governed by a succession of military governors, administrators, and elected governors since its formation on 3 February 1976, when the former East Central State was divided into Anambra and Imo. This action was part of a nationwide state-creation reform under the military regime of Murtala Mohammed. Before 1976, the area lay within the Eastern Region. After the regional system was dissolved on 27 May 1967 by Yakubu Gowon during the Nigerian Civil War, the Eastern Region was split into East Central State, Rivers State, and South-Eastern State. East Central State covered much of the Igbo-speaking area until its division in 1976. During that period, Ukpabi Asika served as administrator until 1975, followed by Anthony Ochefu until the state's dissolution. The capital, Enugu, became capital of the newly formed Anambra State and later of Enugu State. From its creation in 1976, Anambra State was governed by military appointees: John Atom Kpera (1976–1978) and Datti Sadiq Abubakar (1978–1979). With the advent of the Second Republic in October 1979, Jim Nwobodo of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) served as the first civilian governor from October 1979 to October 1983, succeeded briefly by Christian Onoh of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Military rule returned by the end of 1983, and between 1984 and 1992 the state was led by Allison Madueke (1984–1985), Samson Omeruah (1985–1987), Robert Akonobi (1987–1990), and Herbert Eze (1990–1992), with Joseph Abulu serving briefly in 1991. (Full article...) Delta State, situated in Nigeria's southern region, has had various leaders since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, both military and civilian. After independence in 1960, Nigeria had only three regions, and the area of the future Delta State was located in the Western Region. The Mid-Western Region was separated from the Western Region in August 1963 and had Dennis Osadebay as its initial Premier. Osadebay served until January 1966, when he was replaced by David Akpode Ejoor, the first military governor. Control of the region was contested during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), and Ejoor was replaced by Samuel Ogbemudia. Ogbemudia governed the Mid-Western Region from September 1967 to July 1975. The region was renamed and reorganised as the Bendel State on 17 March 1976, its name a combination of the old Benin and Delta provinces. Some governors during this time period include George Agbazika Innih, Husaini Abdullahi, and Ambrose Folorunsho Alli. Ogbemudia also returned for a three-month stint as a civilian governor in 1983 before the military reasserted control. (Full article...)

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TolBot (talk) 21:00, 18 May 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Snap Judgments has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Snap Judgments has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of TheNuggeteer -- TheNuggeteer (talk) 07:05, 30 May 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Oguola is under review

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Your nomination of Oguola has passed

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Books & Bytes – Issue 74

The Wikipedia Library: Books & Bytes
Issue 74, March–April 2026

• New partnership: Swissdox
• User survey results

Read the full newsletter

Sent by MediaWiki message delivery on behalf of The Wikipedia Library team – 10:35, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

(This message was sent to User:Vanderwaalforces and is being posted here due to a redirect.)

Need your advice

Hello! Hope you're doing fine. I needed an advice from you regarding my AP rights permission discussion here - [1]. After you had presented a different source analysis, the last comment was from Voorts - that he will let another admin review it. No second admin has reviewed it but suddenly MusikBot has archived the discussion. So, what should I do? Apply again or maybe undo that archiving bot edit? Thanks! BhikhariInformer‬ 📮 ^{(Ping me or else I won't see it)} 04:05, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

@BhikhariInformer I wonder why it was archived since it has not been completely treated, I think you should undo the archive. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 04:11, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

Alright....then I'll undo it. Thanks! BhikhariInformer‬ 📮 ^{(Ping me or else I won't see it)} 04:28, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Ohen is under review

Your good article nomination of the article Ohen is under review. See the review page for more information. This may take up to 7 days; feel free to contact the reviewer with any questions you might have. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of Gommeh -- Gommeh (talk) 17:05, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

DCWC call for coordinators

The Developing Countries WikiContest Gold Belt Buckle

Hey Vanderwaalforces, it's almost that time again! The Developing Countries WikiContest will be returning for its third year, and the coordinator team is looking for experienced content contributors willing to volunteer. The coordinators are responsible for keeping the contest running and its pages‍—‌including participants' submissions, the points leaderboard, and the list of eligible articles‍—‌updated.

If you would like to apply, please contact one of the coordinators; you may choose to do so privately if you wish: Arconning (talk · email), sawyer777 (talk · email), or TechnoSquirrel69 (talk · email). (To unsubscribe from these updates, remove yourself from this list.) Sent via MediaWiki message delivery (talk) —TechnoSquirrel69 (sigh) 22:26, 3 June 2026 (UTC)

Talk:Battle of Mons Lactarius/GA1

Hi Vanderwaalforces, I'm one of the coordinators of the ongoing June GAN backlog drive. I see that you promoted this article but did not specify whether you spotchecked it during the review. Was that mistake or you forgot to do it? Cheers, Vacant0 (talk • contribs) 10:49, 4 June 2026 (UTC)

@Vacant0 I in fact specified that spot check was done, Spot checks came back clean and… Vanderwaalforces (talk) 10:52, 4 June 2026 (UTC)

Somehow missed that comment. Thanks for letting me know. Reviewers usually specify which sources they spotchecked but this is fine too. Review accepted. Y Vacant0 (talk • contribs) 10:54, 4 June 2026 (UTC)

WP:GARC: Invitation to review Nod-Krai

Hello, you have been paired at good article review circles to review Nod-Krai. At the same time, another user will be reviewing the article you nominated. Please wait 24 hours or until all users have accepted their nomination before starting your review in case a user in your circle decides to decline their invite.

To accept or decline this invitation to review the article, visit WT:GARC#92.

A.Cython(talk) 05:22, 5 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Ohen has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Ohen has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of Gommeh -- Gommeh (talk) 19:25, 5 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Benin–Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria is under review

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WP:GARC: Invitation to review 1918 annexation of Vojvodina

Hello, you have been paired at good article review circles to review 1918 annexation of Vojvodina. At the same time, another user will be reviewing the article you nominated. Please wait 24 hours or until all users have accepted their nomination before starting your review in case a user in your circle decides to decline their invite.

To accept or decline this invitation to review the article, visit WT:GARC#94.

A.Cython(talk) 05:33, 8 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Benin–Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Benin–Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of A.Cython -- A.Cython (talk) 05:41, 8 June 2026 (UTC)

Unintended consequence

The VWF bot has made unwanted changes to a Cocos Island info box. Please take a look. Kudie924 (talk) 14:03, 8 June 2026 (UTC)

@Kudie924 Hi there… it is not an unintended edit, please see Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/VWF bot 6. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 14:50, 8 June 2026 (UTC)

It is not the edit that was unintended. The result was probably unintended. It appears to have done more than it was designed to do. It made a mess. No problem really, since it alerts anyone who looks at it of the need to rewrite the infoboxes, and the maps, too, for that matter. I just wanted you, as operator of the bot, to be aware of what was happening. Kudie924 (talk) 10:00, 9 June 2026 (UTC)

@Kudie924 ah, please can you tell me what

exactly was the problem? I am still blank. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 10:11, 9 June 2026 (UTC)

If you look at the Cocos Island infobox - the top one - the problem should be evident. If the problem is not evident to you, then I am mistaken. End of story. Kudie924 (talk) 13:20, 9 June 2026 (UTC)

@Kudie924 Bleep, blorp... VWF bot says it is not responsible for the action you are accusing it of, haha. Anyway, this was the bot's edit, and this was the edit that caused the problem you're probably talking about, which was done by user Andrei Konovalenko (intentionally not going to ping, no essence). Nothing to worry about though; I have undone the edit and all should be good now. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 15:05, 9 June 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for looking into that and correcting the problem. I should have studied it more before bringing you into it. My apology. Kudie924 (talk) 11:45, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

Wikimedia Foundation Bulletin 2026 Issue 10

Here is a quick overview of highlights from the Wikimedia Foundation since our last issue on May 8. Please help translate.

---

Highlights

• Community Wishlist discussion: Product & Technology introduced changes meant to increase the number and complexity of wishes fulfilled, including the disbanding of the Community Tech team. They are engaging in discussions about a proposed direction for the wishlist from community members. Includes ways to structure annual voting, better tracking of wishes, removing focus areas, and staffing updates.
• Digital Public Goods: The Wikimedia Foundation has become a member of the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA).
• Better bot detection: A trial of hCaptcha on several Wikipedias, including English, French, and Japanese, showed it can effectively detect and deter bad-faith automated activity, on its own and by giving checkusers and stewards signals to look into. Based on these results, hCaptcha will be rolled out across all wikis. See the project page for technical information about the implementation and privacy protections.

Annual Goals Progress on Infrastructure
See also newsletters: Wikimedia Apps · Growth · Product Safety and Integrity · Readers · Research · Wikifunctions & Abstract Wikipedia · Tech News · Language and Internationalization · other newsletters on MediaWiki.org

Example of the Attribution Framework recommendations.

• A better way to give credit: The Wikimedia Attribution Framework and API makes it simple for developers to fairly credit volunteer contribution. When anyone encounters Wikimedia content, we want them to know that it comes from our projects, and they are invited to participate.
• Baby Globe joins the Reading Challenge: The Android and iOS Wikipedia apps released the 25-day reading challenge, to drive readers engagement through reading milestones. To track their reading streak during the challenge, users can add a widget featuring Baby Globe to their home screen.
• Account security: The Foundation is technically enforcing that all privileges that enable users to take security- or privacy-sensitive actions can only be held by users who have enabled two-factor authentication. Logging in with passkeys is quicker than logging in without two-factor authentication. In addition, logged-in users can see a banner encouraging them to confirm their email address. These changes secure individual accounts as well as communities and the wikis.
• Incident reporting form: The Foundation began a trial on English Wikipedia of the incident reporting form. 60% of unblocked logged-in users see a new Report button, allowing them to report conduct issues.
• Encouraging account creation: Following a successful account creation experiment, an improved logged-out edit warning message will be deployed to all Wikimedia wikis this week. The change will only affect logged-out users on mobile web who open an editing session.
• Wikimedia Android App: The Wikipedia Android App is at the Phase 1 of redesigning its Home Feed. The new feed includes two tabs: Community, featuring refreshed Explore content, and For You, with personalized reading recommendations based on reader interests and activity. The For You feed refreshes daily with updated suggestions.
• Better discovery of images: The Image Browsing beta feature was rolled out for all Wikipedias on mobile following two successful experiments. The beta feature will include a carousel of all an article’s images at the top of the article, with controls for editors to exclude images from the article’s carousel or to exclude an article from the feature entirely.
• Reading Lists feature: The Foundation is conducting an experiment to show the reading lists feature, which is still in development, to logged-out mobile readers to test whether it encourages account creation at a higher rate compared to the watchstar button. The experiment was launched on May 18 on German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, and Urdu wikis, and will run for a month.

A design mockup of what the share card looks like.

• Testing Suggestion Mode: Suggestion Mode was released as an A/B test for newcomer editors on the mobile website at ~15 Wikipedias. The experiment will measure its impact on the proportion of newcomer mobile web edit sessions that result in constructive (un-reverted) article edits. It will also evaluate the feature’s impact on editor retention and monitor changes in revert and block rates.
• Wikifunctions now supports Wikidata references: References in Wikidata statements are now available on Wikifunctions, and you now can use external links in Wikifunctions-generated citations. This allows the use of more than 1.3 billion references available in Wikidata and adding them as citations to individual statements in Abstract Wikipedia.
• Pilot wikis adopting Abstract Wikipedia: The Abstract Wikipedia team has identified five potential pilot wikis to assess their interest in adopting abstract articles on their wikis. The pilots are Malayalam, Bengali, Dagbani, Arabic, and Indonesian Wikipedia. If your community is interested in becoming a pilot, let us know on Meta.
• Latest experiments: An upcoming experiment is testing whether we can serve readers better when a footnote click in read mode shows the full bibliographic information rather than flying them to the reference list. See all live, upcoming, and completed experiments in Product & Technology.
• Tech News: The latest highlights from Tech News weeks 20, 21, 22, 23 include an experiment to test a new Share Card feature that allows readers to create visually engaging cards from Wikipedia articles and share them online See also the 92 community submitted tasks that were resolved over the last two weeks.

Annual Goals Progress on Volunteer Support
See also blogs: Global Advocacy blog · Global Advocacy Newsletter · Policy blog · WikiLearn News · The Wikipedia Library · list of movement events

• Tech blog moved to Diff: The migration of the Techblog to Diff is now complete: 138 posts going back over a decade have been successfully migrated. Diff is now happy to welcome technology-focused blog posts with renewed vigor.
• What’s new in the Wikipedia Library: Access to the American Psychological Association was renewed and collections from the Harvard Business Review and Swiss Media Database (Swissdox) are now available to editors who are eligible for The Wikipedia Library.
• New course on WikiLearn: A free self-paced online course, designed for researchers who want to make their field more visible on Wikipedia, was launched on WikiLearn. Share "Wikipedia for Researchers” if you work with early-career researchers, teach in an academic institution, or support open knowledge communities.
• Wiki Mentor Africa: The first edition of Wiki Mentor Africa - Women Tech Summit brought together over 315 registered participants across Africa to learn, explore, and grow in tech together.
• Let's Connect Learning Clinic: If you missed it, you can now watch the recording of the Let's Connect Learning Clinic "How to support up-and-coming groups in the movement as a long-time Wikimedian" with Wikimedistas El Salvador.
• Community Conferences: Registration for WikiConference North America and Queering Wiki Conference is now opened. Call for Speakers for the Queering Wiki is also opened until June 30.

Annual Goals Progress on Effectiveness
See also: Progress on the annual plan

• Sharing the Form 990s: The Wikimedia Foundation and the Wikimedia Endowment published their Form 990s, covering the fiscal year that ran from July 2024 to June 2025. The Form 990 is an annual form required of all nonprofit organizations in the United States. You can read the highlights on Form 990 for the Foundation and Form 990 for the Endowment on Meta-Wiki.
• Wikimedia Enterprise: Wikimedia Enterprise's free API accounts gets a substantial upgrade across the Snapshot and On-demand APIs, including free access to Structured Contents Snapshots.
• Structured Contents: How Databricks Parsed Wikipedia to Markdown with Python.

Board and Board committee updates
See Wikimedia Foundation Board noticeboard · Affiliations Committee Newsletter

• Board selection process: The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees is reviewing and improving how it selects new members. The goal is to ensure that there is the right mix of expertise and community representation on the board. Join the conversation on 16 June at 17:00 UTC, and share your ideas on the talk page.

Other Movement curated newsletters & news
See also: Diff blog · Goings-on · Planet Wikimedia · Signpost (en) · Kurier (de) · Actualités du Wiktionnaire (fr) · Regards sur l’actualité de la Wikimedia (fr) · Wikimag (fr) · Education · GLAM · Milestones · Wikidata · Central and Eastern Europe · other newsletters

Subscribe or unsubscribe · Help translate

For information about the Bulletin and to read previous editions, see the project page on Meta-Wiki. If you have feedback or suggestions about the bulletin, let us know at foundationbulletinwikimedia.org. For questions about the Wikimedia Foundation's work, contact us!

MediaWiki message delivery 22:31, 9 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Ewuare is under review

Your good article nomination of the article Ewuare is under review. See the review page for more information. This may take up to 7 days; feel free to contact the reviewer with any questions you might have. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of TheNuggeteer -- TheNuggeteer (talk) 04:23, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

Guild of Copy Editors – June 2026 Newsletter

Guild of Copy Editors June 2026 Newsletter Hello and welcome to the June 2026 newsletter, a quarterly-ish digest of Guild activities since April. Election news: Nominations for the mid-year coordinator election ends at 23:59 on 15 June. Voting will last from 00:00 on 16 June to 23:59 on 30 June. Results will be announced on the election page. April Blitz: 18 of the 21 editors who signed up for the April 2026 Copy Editing Blitz copy edited 122,993 words in 56 articles. Barnstars awarded are here. May Drive: 34 of the 66 editors who signed up for the May 2026 Backlog Elimination Drive copy edited 543,972 words in 211 articles. Barnstars awarded are here. June Blitz: Our June 2026 Copy Editing Blitz will start on 14 June and finish on 30 June. Barnstars awarded will be posted here. Progress report: As of 22:40, 11 June 2025 (UTC), GOCE copyeditors have completed 132 requests since 1 January, and the backlog stands at 1,691 articles. Thank you all again for your participation; we wouldn't be able to achieve what we have without you! Cheers from your GOCE coordinators. To discontinue receiving GOCE newsletters, please remove your name from our mailing list.

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 22:58, 11 June 2026 (UTC)

May 2026 NPP backlog drive – Points award

		The New Page Patroller's Barnstar
		This award is given in recognition of Vanderwaalforces for accumulating at least 100 points in the May 2026 NPP backlog drive. Your contributions helped review 14884 articles during the drive. Thank you so much for taking part and helping reduce the backlog! – DreamRimmer ■ 15:57, 12 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Ewuare has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Ewuare has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of TheNuggeteer -- TheNuggeteer (talk) 09:22, 14 June 2026 (UTC)

Task 2 for VWF bot needs a delay or error checking

I just ran across an error that was caused by VWF bot pertaining to Task 2, removing RfD daily subpage transclusions. The error was caused after a series of edits starting when Tavix closed the final open discussion on Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2026 May 8 [2]; in response, the bot removed the subpage transclusion from Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion a few seconds later [3]. However, approximately 3 minutes later, Tavix reopened the discussion [4], but VFW bot never restored the transclusion on RfD, given the page now had an open discussion.

My recommendation here would be to do one of two things:

1. This option is probably simpler but still leaves room for error: Add a 5 to 10 minute delay prior to VWF bot removing transclusions from RfD, potentially by first checking immediately to see if any discussions are still open (like it does now), but not remove the subpage translation until it checks a second time 5 to 10 minutes later.
2. Check all RFD subpages in existence on a semi regular basis to see if any of them still have open discussions, and restore them when an open discussion is found. (This is obviously the alternative because this would require a lot of work from the bot.)

Either way, because of the bot's action, the aforementioned subpage has not been listed for almost a month now, which is obviously problematic. Steel1943 (talk) 06:06, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

@Steel1943 Damn, an entire month! That’s a huge mess. Okay, I know Tarvix closed it and caused the bot to malfunction, but I won’t blame Tarvix entirely; someone else did something like this previously.

I’ll need to do a fix regarding this ASAP. Thank you, Steel! Vanderwaalforces (talk) 06:34, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

The DCWC is back!

The Developing Countries WikiContest Gold Belt Buckle

Hey Vanderwaalforces, the Developing Countries WikiContest is back for a third year, and sign-ups are now open! The contest will run from 1 July to 30 September, and the objective remains the same: improve as many articles relating to developing countries as you can to help fight systemic bias on Wikipedia.

Thanks to everyone who answered the call for coordinators, and please welcome the new faces on the coordinator team: the 2024 Gold Belt Buckle winner Generalissima (talk · contribs); and the record-holder for most India-related submissions in 2024, Magentic Manifestations (talk · contribs)! Following feedback from last year, adjustments have been made to the scoring rules; discussion can be found on the contest talk page.

If you have any questions, please leave a message on the contest talk page or contact one of the coordinators: Arconning (talk · contribs), Generalissima (talk · contribs), Magentic Manifestations (talk · contribs), sawyer777 (talk · contribs), or TechnoSquirrel69 (talk · contribs). (To unsubscribe from these updates, remove yourself from this list. Sent via MediaWiki message delivery.) —TechnoSquirrel69 (talk) 16:00, 20 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Akengbuda is under review

Your good article nomination of the article Akengbuda is under review. See the review page for more information. This may take up to 7 days; feel free to contact the reviewer with any questions you might have. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of A.Cython -- A.Cython (talk) 21:01, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

Wikimedia Foundation Bulletin 2026 Issue 11

Here is a quick overview of highlights from the Wikimedia Foundation since our last issue on June 5. Please help translate.

---

Highlights

The Wikimania program is now live!

• Community Wishlist: Weigh in on proposals and open questions on how the wishlist will operate in the future.
• Simplifying account creation: The Foundation is working on improving the account creation process to reduce potential friction for newcomers to create an account. Improvements include making "Create Account" icon more prominent on mobile, simplifying the registration form, and introducing real-time username validation.
• New U4C members elected: The Universal Code of Conduct Coordinating Committee (U4C) has new members and has two remaining vacancies in Middle East & North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Wikimania conference program: The Wikimania 2026 program is now live! Take a moment to review the program, and, if you are logged in, you can mark your "must see” sessions with a star to start building your personal schedule. Register for a virtual ticket here, if you haven't signed up yet.
• Neutral Point of View: A proposal for a baseline NPOV standard for Wikipedias that do not have one was published, with a community discussion open until July 15, 2026.

Annual Goals Progress on Infrastructure
See also newsletters: Wikimedia Apps · Growth · Product Safety and Integrity · Readers · Research · Wikifunctions & Abstract Wikipedia · Tech News · Language and Internationalization · other newsletters on MediaWiki.org

Screenshot showing the Explore Feed refresh in the Wikipedia app (from the Community tab entry point)

• App Explore feed: The redesigned App Explore feed, now called "Home", has been released to all Android users. The update introduces a refreshed feed experience along with the first set of new content modules, including Did You Know, Places of Interest, Random Article, and a new end-of-feed experience. Additional content and improvements are planned in future releases.
• Wikipedia games: The Which came first? daily trivia game is now available in the beta version of the Wikipedia iOS app in English, German, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Turkish. The game uses historical events from Wikipedia’s “On This Day” content and challenges readers to guess which of two events happened first.
• Reusing references: Sub-referencing, a new MediaWiki feature that allows editors to reuse references with different details, has been rolled out to Group 1 wikis and French Wikipedia following a successful pilot phase.
• Article guidance: The Article guidance feature is being tested with some editors creating new articles on the Simple English, French, and Turkish Wikipedias. The experiment will soon begin on the Arabic and Bangla Wikipedias as well. The outlines guide less experienced editors in creating high-quality articles. A quick guide to markups used in outlines can be found on this page. Example outlines that can be adapted and instructions for how to adapt them are on this section of the project page.
• Mobile Page Previews: The Page Previews experiment on mobile web has concluded with the decision not to roll out the feature. The results showed no statistically significant impact on reader retention – the primary success metric. Page Previews, which are already available on desktop and in the apps, display a thumbnail, lead paragraph, and link to the full article when readers tap a blue link.
• Wikifunctions: You can now add images to Abstract Wikipedia and the loading and display of test results when viewing Functions has been improved.
• Wikidata: The Foundation is migrating the Wikidata Query Service (WDQS) away from the Blazegraph backend since it no longer scales efficiently with Wikidata’s growth. The migration will take place in several phases. Here is the timeline.
• Growth features: Growth features are now available at Wikidata!  Wikidata administrators are still configuring the features through Community Configuration, but this update enables access to Mentorship (if configured), Impact, the Help Panel, and a simplified Newcomer Homepage (without Suggested Edits).
• Mentors' management: The Growth team will soon provide a system to automatically suspend or remove inactive mentors from the list of mentors. Communities can already start configuring the process in the Community Configuration.
• Collaborative Contributions: If you need help setting up the Collaborative Contributions and the Goal setting features, check out these video guides. These features allow you to view which edits are made during an event and allows the group to track progress against a goal with a public progress bar. Learn more.
• Latest experiments: An upcoming experiment is testing whether we can serve readers better when a footnote click in read mode shows the full bibliographic information rather than flying them to the reference list. See all live, upcoming, and completed experiments in Product & Technology.
• Tech News: The latest highlights from Tech News week 24 and 25 include how the user interface icon library is being updated. Most of the ~300 icons have been slightly refined and ~30 new icons have been added. See also the 62 community submitted tasks that were resolved over the last two weeks.

Annual Goals Progress on Volunteer Support
See also blogs: Global Advocacy blog · Global Advocacy Newsletter · Policy blog · WikiLearn News · The Wikipedia Library · list of movement events

• Digital Safety: Join a conversation about Using AI Safely. It'll explore risks & concerns of using AI tools in personal and organisational contexts and practical strategies to reduce those risks. It will take place at 03:30 UTC & 14:30 UTC on June 26. This session is not about using AI to edit Wikipedia. It's focused entirely on safe personal and organisational use.
• Don't Blink: Read the latest developments from around the world about protecting the Wikimedia model, its people and its values. Highlights include exploring the implications that new child safety regulations have on privacy online.
• Grantmaking strategy & Affiliate model: Members of the Global Resources Distribution Committee (GRDC) and the Affiliations Committee (AffCom) met to advance two key movement initiatives: the development of a new Grantmaking strategy and a refreshed Affiliate Model. They produced initial proposals and advanced work on both initiatives ahead of broader conversations planned for Wikimania 2026.

Annual Goals Progress on Effectiveness
See also: Progress on the annual plan

• Enterprise: SimPPL Uses Wikimedia Enterprise to Map Online Conversations and Fact-Check Social Media.

Other Movement curated newsletters & news
See also: Diff blog · Goings-on · Planet Wikimedia · Signpost (en) · Kurier (de) · Actualités du Wiktionnaire (fr) · Regards sur l’actualité de la Wikimedia (fr) · Wikimag (fr) · Education · GLAM · Milestones · Wikidata · Central and Eastern Europe · other newsletters

Subscribe or unsubscribe · Help translate

For information about the Bulletin and to read previous editions, see the project page on Meta-Wiki. If you have feedback or suggestions about the bulletin, let us know at foundationbulletinwikimedia.org. For questions about the Wikimedia Foundation's work, contact us!

MediaWiki message delivery 22:38, 23 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Akengbuda has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Akengbuda has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of A.Cython -- A.Cython (talk) 04:01, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

WP:GARC: Invitation to review 2026 Chennai Super Kings season

Hello, you have been paired at good article review circles to review 2026 Chennai Super Kings season. At the same time, another user will be reviewing the article you nominated. Please wait 24 hours or until all users have accepted their nomination before starting your review in case a user in your circle decides to decline their invite.

To accept or decline this invitation to review the article, visit WT:GARC#97.

Crestfalling (talk/contribs) 06:01, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Ewuakpe is under review

Your good article nomination of the article Ewuakpe is under review. See the review page for more information. This may take up to 7 days; feel free to contact the reviewer with any questions you might have. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of BarntToust -- BarntToust (talk) 00:03, 27 June 2026 (UTC)