On the 30th of November 2019, Folorunsho Coker the Director-General of National Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) and Kayode Akintemi, the Managing Director of Plus TV Africa received Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation’s Distinguished Personality Award for their contributions to the growth and development of open knowledge in Nigeria.
Folorunsho Coker is a dominant force in the promotion of diversity in the Nigeria tourism sector and open knowledge in the country. The NTDC led by Coker has been a key supporting element of Wikimedia outreach programs in Nigeria like Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki loves Earths by allowing professional photographers unlimited access to protected tourist attraction centers and the release of quality images of tourist attraction sites under open licenses for the promotion of Nigeria on the world global digital space.
Kayode Akintemi, the MD of PlusTV Africa is a Nigerian media veteran and a committed supporter of open knowledge in the country.
PlusTV Africa is a major media partner of all Wikimedia outreach projects in Nigeria propagating the reach of Wikimedia activities in the country.
In 2019 during the Wiki Loves Monument project, PlusTV provided the platform for professional photographers to give detail analysis of their captured images which was unprecedented in the history of the contest resulting in massive publicity and encouragement to other photographers.
Chief Mrs. Alaba Lawson, the first female president of Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the current Chair, Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State was the first recipient of the award in 2017, the same year Oluseun Onigbinde, the CEO of budgIT received the award.
Professor, Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN), the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University received the award in 2018.
The President of Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation Inc., Olaniyan Olushola congratulated the recipients of the award on behalf of the board Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation and encouraged them to continue to promote open knowledge in Nigeria.