Experts Urge African Nations to Overhaul Intellectual Property Systems to Boost Socioeconomic Growth

Despite ongoing efforts to build effective intellectual property (IP) ecosystems across Africa, many countries continue to grapple with systemic weaknesses that hinder socioeconomic progress. Industry experts highlight that the creation, protection, maintenance, commercialization, and enforcement of IP rights remain underdeveloped, constrained by limited institutional capacity and human resources.

As Africa’s economy increasingly pivots towards knowledge, innovation, and technology, stakeholders argue that now is a critical moment for policymakers to reassess their national IP frameworks and explore avenues for improvement. The New Times engaged with various IP professionals to discuss enforcement challenges and potential strategies for strengthening the continent’s IP landscape.

Sand Mba Kalu, an international trade and investment expert from Nigeria attending the fifth All Africa Intellectual Property Summit in Kigali, emphasized the need for African countries to unify and harmonize their IP systems. He questioned whether IP is currently an abstraction for Africa and why IP frameworks remain chronically underfunded across the continent.

"We need to have this conversation and rethink Africa’s stance in the global IP systems," Mba Kalu said. He noted that Africa was largely absent when the global IP regime was established but stressed the continent’s "massive role" in shaping the future of IP.

"We want to see IP systems working for Africa. We want to see African products being sold in Japan because they are African products. It is a process, but it is still possible," he added.

Echoing these views, Phillip Nyanja Kalibbala, an IP advocate and agent based in Uganda, called for Africa to "own its IP system for the benefit of its people." He pointed out that the current IP framework is based on international standards that may not fully align with African realities.

Kalibbala highlighted that the technical complexity and high costs of the existing system pose significant barriers, particularly for young African entrepreneurs. He further observed that IP ecosystems have not been optimally leveraged to advance socioeconomic development or achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Patent registration statistics illustrate this gap: in 2020, Africa accounted for only 0.5 percent of global patent applications, compared to 66.6 percent in Asia, 19.3 percent in North America, and 10.9 percent in Europe. Moreover, only 20.7 percent of African patent applications were filed by residents, indicating that most filings originate from non-residents.

This data suggests that local innovations are either limited or inadequately protected by existing patent systems. Kalibbala stressed the importance of raising awareness about IP benefits and eliminating intermediaries that complicate access.

"If nothing is done, the continent could lag for the next fifty years. We shall always be on the back end," he warned.

Professor Grace Funmilayo Ogunlusi, Director of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer at Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University, identified lack of knowledge as a critical factor undermining IP protection in Africa.

"You will find creative people who come up with innovations, but they don't know that that wealth should be protected," she said, underscoring the need for educational initiatives to empower innovators.

The consensus among experts is clear: Africa must rethink and reform its IP systems to foster innovation, protect local creators, and drive sustainable economic development. Harmonization, capacity building, cost reduction, and awareness campaigns are pivotal steps toward realizing this vision.