By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has welcomed and honored students of Maretha International Preparatory High School following their historic victory in the 2026 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Regional Intellectual Property Club Competition.
The students were received Monday at the Executive Mansion after securing Liberia’s first-ever championship in the prestigious regional contest held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on May 29.
The visit brought together officials of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), school administrators, teachers, and members of the victorious student delegation.
Congratulating the students, President Boakai described them as ambassadors of Liberia and praised their achievement as a demonstration of the country’s growing potential in innovation, creativity, and intellectual property education.
He also commended LIPO, teachers, and parents for their commitment to nurturing young talent and exposing students to opportunities that promote innovation and intellectual development.
The winning project, titled “The Brushstrokes of Justice,” focused on copyright awareness and the protection of creative works.
It emerged as the overall winner among entries from six African countries, including Ghana, Rwanda, and Zambia.
The project tells the story of two young artists whose contrasting experiences illustrate both the risks associated with limited intellectual property awareness and the benefits of protecting creative works through copyright and other intellectual property rights.
Liberia’s success was further highlighted by the outstanding performance of student representative Lomenie Kollie, who excelled in the competition’s quizzing and role-play segments, outperforming contestants from participating countries.
The regional IP School Club Competition, jointly organized by WIPO and ARIPO, seeks to promote intellectual property awareness among young people while encouraging respect for creativity, innovation, and intellectual assets.
This year’s competition was held under the theme, “Intellectual Property and the Creative Industries: A Perfect Tool for Development.”
According to LIPO, Liberia’s participation forms part of a broader national strategy aimed at integrating intellectual property education into schools through the establishment of IP Clubs and awareness programs nationwide.
The initiative is intended to equip students with practical knowledge of copyright, trademarks, patents, innovation, and the importance of protecting creative and intellectual assets.
Speaking on the significance of the achievement, LIPO Director General Garmai Koboi said the victory demonstrates the growing capacity of Liberian youth to lead conversations on innovation, creativity, and intellectual property across Africa.
“The victory of our students demonstrates the growing potential of Liberia’s young people to lead conversations on innovation, creativity, and intellectual property, not only at home but across Africa,” Koboi said.
“The win strengthens our resolve to continue investing in IP education across the country.”
