Liberia Intellectual Property Office wants to be strengthened

The Officer in Charge at the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) Mr. Prince Decker says one of the surest ways of actualizing President George Manneh Weah’s Pro-poor Agenda is by providing LIPO with a competent leadership and increasing its capacity to fully implement its mandate.

He made the statement Monday, 7 May at the University of Liberia during the official opening of the Intellectual Property seminar for academic and research institution held under the theme: Fostering Creativity and Innovative for Economic Growth and Development in Africa.

The legal instrument and framework for a robust IP regime aimed at generating, protecting and ensuring commercial exploitation and enforcement of intellectual property rights has been established through the tireless efforts of many persons.

At the same time Mr. Decker says the huge potential of the creative sector here in Liberia can only be realized if the laws and principles of intellectual property are respected.

According to him, respecting the rules of trade means respecting intellectual property rights towards ensuring the development of intellectual property in all 19 members states of African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) for sustained economic growth.

Mr. Decker indicates that the presence of AIRPO is to elevate the conversation of intellectual property to another level, and to promote the development of intellectual property in Africa by exposing researchers, universities, generators of IP to new dimensions and opportunities for collective and individual growth.

According to him, this time of the seminar is even more critical as LIPO continues its awareness campaign aimed at educating and enlightening others on the importance of intellectual property.

For her part, University of Liberia (UL) president Dr. Ophelia Weeks thanked ARIPO for choosing Liberia to host the seminar, saying she is extremely happy that UL students will have the opportunity to do their research and get on par with their counterparts in the region.

According to her, the seminar is first of its kind in Liberia, and she is glad for such a brilliant idea in forming membership with ARIPO for the benefit of the country.
“ I hope that our students will learn from the knowledge that the Director General of ARIPO [is] trying to share and will take interest in innovation and Arts,” she says.

By Lewis S. Teh–Edited by Winston W. Parley