The
2025 ARIPO Intellectual Property Journalists’ Awards were held in Accra on 19
November 2025, celebrating the storytellers shaping the continent’s growing
innovation narrative. Held on the sidelines of the 49th Session of the ARIPO
Administrative Council, the ceremony honoured journalists whose reporting has contributed to deepening public understanding of intellectual property (IP) rights across the 22 ARIPO Member
States.
In its second edition, the awards
showcased both exceptional talent and remarkable growth from last year’s
inaugural event. The top honour of 1st Prize, worth
US$3,000, was claimed by Lloyd
Makonya of Zimbabwe, 2nd Prize, US$2,000, went to Daniel Samson of
Tanzania, and the 3rd Prize, US$1,000, was
awarded to Dorcas Letuka of Lesotho.
This year’s competition drew a larger
and more diverse pool of submissions compared to 2024, a sign that the awards
are beginning to achieve what they set out to do: inspire more journalists to
explore and explain intellectual property. ARIPO’s Director General, Mr.
Bemanya Twebaze captured this growth clearly in his remarks, noting that
entries were received across print, digital, and
television, with both public
and private media houses showing increased interest in IP
reporting.
“When we launched the ARIPO IP
Journalists Awards in 2024, our vision was simple yet profound: to recognise
and encourage those who use the power of storytelling to educate the public
about intellectual property,” the DG said. “This year’s competition has shown
encouraging progress… awareness of the subject is steadily growing beyond
specialised circles.”
This year, participation nearly doubled,
and the themes expanded, from patenting in agri-tech to trademark protection in
creative industries and the role of IP in cultural heritage. The judges noted a
marked improvement in technical accuracy, narrative clarity, and the ability to
connect IP issues to everyday life.
ARIPO attributes this growth to
strengthened collaboration with Member States and their National IP Offices,
which actively promoted the competition and encouraged participation at
national level. The DG also thanked Members of the Administrative Council for their
guidance, and the panel of judges for their “professionalism, expertise, and
integrity.”
More than an awards ceremony, the night
underscored why IP storytelling matters.
“As we celebrate our winners, we
recognise that you are not only journalists; you are educators, advocates, and
changemakers,” the DG said. “Your work plays an essential role in helping the
public understand how intellectual property protection connects to innovation,
business growth, and creative industries.”
As the evening drew to a close, the
winners expressed gratitude and reaffirmed their commitment to amplifying
Africa’s innovation stories. The atmosphere was filled with optimism, an
acknowledgment that IP is no longer a distant technical concept but an evolving
part of Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
Looking ahead, ARIPO reiterated its
commitment to expanding partnerships with the media across its 22 Member
States. With growing attention, improved reporting quality, and rising numbers
of journalists engaging with IP, the awards are fast becoming a continental
platform for shaping how Africa’s innovation journey is told.
ARIPO continues to support the voices of media practitioners in telling Africa’s innovation story with clarity, passion, and pride.