By Dolapo Aina
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) describe intellectual property (IP) as creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. Intellectual Property is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create. By striking the right balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public interest, the IP system aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish.
With the aforementioned introduction, from June 6 to June 6, Heads of Intellectual Property (IP) offices in Africa convened in Kigali, Rwanda, for the second edition of the Heads of IP Offices Conference (HIPOC). The conference, held for the second time, provided a platform for heads of IP offices to discuss IP-related developments in the ARIPO Member States and adopt a coherent and efficient approach to implementing technical assistance offered by WIPO and other partners. This annual conference was organised by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and hosted by the Rwanda Development Board. The gathering aimed to promote cooperation and dialogue among member states in the spirit of sharing best practices and experiences in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) administration and management in the region.
Speaking while sharing remarks during the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the ARIPO Administrative Council, Zimbabwe Chief Registrar Mr. Willie Mushayi posited that: “ARIPO plays an important role in the discharge of its mandate to promote creativity and innovation through the protection of Intellectual Property rights in Africa. As Heads of IP Offices of ARIPO
Members States, it is our mammoth obligation to not only ensure that ARIPO delivers on this mandate but to also be the face of Intellectual Property in our respective Member States. As we move forward in keeping with the objective of this Conference, it is so critical that we are alive to this background because we are the pivot at which the Organization and the State’s respective goals converge.”
Furthermore, the ARIPO Director General, Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, challenged the leaders to bring forward all the discussions necessary to raise the bar in IP for Member States. In his words: “Contemporary issues, as well as those that are unsettling the IP landscape, will mark the essence of our discussions. Essentially, it is more profound that this engagement is directed to us as leaders with a mandate to implement interventions and changes relevant to Intellectual Property and innovation to ensure that at every level we inspire, engage, and influence our colleagues and stakeholders; and more importantly, galvanize the support required to deliver on the important mandate we hold.”
At the second edition, member states represented were from Botswana, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Dolapo Aina, speaking to one of the delegates about her thoughts on the gathering, Mrs Keitseng Nkah Monyatsi from Botswana, who is a Copyright Administrator and who at the HIPOC was representing her Registrar General stated that: “I found it to be a high-quality programme as it brought in very knowledgeable and well experienced facilitators, whose presentation style challenged one to relate and assess themselves against the information shared.”
Mrs Keitseng Nkah Monyatsi’s key takeaways and in her own words: “I need to reflect on the impact of technological advancements on my work and the people I lead particularly the younger generations. What it means for Botswana is, listen to younger employees, try to strike a balance between their expectations and those of mature ones in order to keep both demographics engaged and productive. At a personal level, I will embrace technology more and open up to the use of social media platforms.”
Another takeaway was the statement by one of the experts who clamoured to the delegates on evolving by stating that: “We need to the mindset of Africans who seem to be fixated in their professions and not evolving. There are certain professions today that are fast becoming redundant.”
