Olaniyan Olushola, a Nigerian media strategist, entrepreneur, and open knowledge advocate has significantly shaped the landscape of knowledge dissemination in Nigeria. Since founding Wikimedia User Group Nigeria in 2015, he has served as the chairman of the board of trustees of Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation and has been a longstanding Wikimedia editor. His extensive work spans various facets of open knowledge advocacy, including education, event organization, and editing Wikipedia.
In 2017, Olushola co-produced a groundbreaking Wikipedia Campaign in Nigeria featuring prominent artists, which garnered over 17 million views worldwide within three weeks and earned a nomination for the best video at the African Excellence Award 2018. His influence extends to policy discussions, as he engaged with the Nigerian Senate in 2018 to highlight the benefits of open knowledge in enhancing the country's visibility.
Pioneering initiatives such as WikiFanClub, initiated in 2018 at the University of Ibadan, aim to recruit Nigerian undergraduate students into the Wikimedia Movement. As of 2024, the project operates in over ten Nigerian tertiary institutions, benefiting over 1000 undergraduates. Olushola's commitment to preserving indigenous languages led to the documentation of over 150 audiovisuals by 2023, enriching Wikipedia and sister projects.
In 2023, he was crucial in introducing the African Journalism Award, contributing over two thousand reliable sources to enhance African-related content on Wikipedia. Recognized for his impact, Olushola was featured as a panelist at the 2023 Wikiindaba in Agadir, Morocco, discussing the project's success in engaging professionals with Wikimedia initiatives.