The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has officially launched its 50th anniversary celebrations, unveiling a commemorative Golden Jubilee logo as it begins a year-long programme to mark five decades of advancing intellectual property protection across Africa.
The high-level ceremony, held at the ARIPO Secretariat in Harare on Monday, brought together government officials, diplomats, development partners, intellectual property (IP) lawyers, innovators, academics and industry leaders. The event was streamed live to stakeholders across the continent.
Celebrating under the theme “Fostering innovation, creativity, and a sustainable future for Africa,” ARIPO said the Golden Jubilee year will serve both as a moment of reflection and a platform to shape the continent’s innovation-driven future.
Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Nobert Tichaona Mazungunye, who represented the Minister, described intellectual property as a strategic driver of industrialisation, investment and sustainable growth. He commended current and former ARIPO leadership for formulating robust protocols that have empowered inventors and businesses across member states.
In his opening remarks, ARIPO Director General, Bemanya Twebaze, said the 50-year milestone represents decades of service to member states and support for inventors, entrepreneurs and communities transforming ideas into impact.
“Fifty years is a significant milestone for any institution. For ARIPO, it represents five decades of delivering intellectual property services across our region and supporting creators and innovators,” Mr. Twebaze said.
As part of the commemorations, ARIPO will host a series of high-level symposia throughout 2026 focusing on key pillars of the IP ecosystem. These include a Brands and Trademarks Symposium in Banjul in April, a Plant Variety Protection Symposium in Arusha in June, a Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Symposium in Swakopmund in August, and a Copyright and Related Rights Symposium in September.
The anniversary year will culminate in a flagship event on December 9, 2026, in Lusaka at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, the historic venue linked to the Lusaka Agreement that established ARIPO. The event will feature the ARIPO IP Africa Conference, expected to attract more than 500 participants including policymakers, global experts, investors and development partners.
Founded to harmonise and strengthen intellectual property systems among its member states, which include Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe among others, ARIPO says its next phase will focus on deepening regional integration and leveraging IP as a catalyst for Africa’s innovation-led growth.
