By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
Harare, Zimbabwe- The Director General of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, today officially opened the practical sessions for the 18th cohort of the Masters in Intellectual Property (MIP) program, jointly offered by ARIPO, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and Africa University.
Speaking at the opening, Mr. Twebaze emphasized the critical role of intellectual property knowledge in driving Africa’s socio-economic development and strengthening human capital.
“Building expertise in IP is not just an academic exercise; it is a strategic investment in Africa’s future, empowering innovators, creators, and policymakers,” he said.
Through partnerships with WIPO, Africa University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the University of Dar es Salaam, ARIPO is developing a strong pool of IP experts across the continent.
The DG said that during the practical training of the students at ARIPO, they will develop hands-on IP skills, including conducting prior art searches, a key step in patenting and monitoring technology trends, and visit IP-related institutions in Harare to gain insights from real-world practices.
He further said that the students will participate in a two-day conference on “IP and Leveraging Intellectual Property for Africa’s Digitalisation and Creative Economy,” linking theory with practice and highlighting IP’s role in the creative sector.
The program reflects ARIPO’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of IP professionals who will drive innovation, creativity, and economic growth across Africa.
