Sierra Leone Hosts 4th ARIPO Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference

By: Miracle Seer 
The Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General, hosted the 4th Edition of the Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference (HIPOC) for ARIPO Member States. The event, held at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown, was themed “Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators: Transformative Leadership and Intellectual Property.”
In her opening remarks as Chairperson, Madam Saptieu E. Saccoh reflected on the evolution and collaborative progress of intellectual property (IP) in Sierra Leone, expressing pride in the country’s achievements and growing impact. She underscored the importance of ARIPO, noting Sierra Leone’s membership since 1980 and the organisation’s role in promoting IP awareness among ministers, legal professionals, and key stakeholders.
Delivering the keynote address, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., described Africa as standing at a pivotal moment, where intellectual property must be recognised “not as a luxury, but as a strategic necessity for sustainable development.”
He declared, “Africa must transition from being consumers of innovation to becoming its architects,” calling for bold, transformative leadership to unlock the continent’s vast creative and technological potential.
Minister Sesay outlined Sierra Leone’s forward-looking agenda under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, highlighting initiatives to modernise IP systems, reform legal frameworks, and build institutional capacity through strategic partnerships with WIPO and ARIPO. He also addressed urgent continental challenges such as counterfeiting, brain drain, and the misappropriation of traditional knowledge, advocating for harmonised IP regimes, digital transformation of IP institutions, and inclusive empowerment of women and youth in the innovation ecosystem.
He concluded with a compelling reminder: *“History will judge us not by the elegance of our policies but by their tangible impact on the lives of African innovators.”

In his response, ARIPO Director General Mr. Bemanya Twebaze praised Sierra Leone’s rich cultural heritage and development potential. He commended the leadership of Madam Saptieu E. Saccoh in advancing intellectual property in the region and expressed gratitude for his engagement with Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, noting: *“I was energised by his passion for intellectual property and his assurance that ARIPO can always count on Sierra Leone’s support.”
Speaking on the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, Mr. Twebaze stated, *“These technologies offer tremendous promise—but only to those prepared to harness them.”* He concluded with a powerful call to action: *“The future of African innovators lies in our hands, and the time for bold leadership is now.”
Addressing the conference, Ms. Martina Baindu Egbanda, Administrator and Registrar General, highlighted the crucial role of transformative leadership in leveraging intellectual property to drive innovation and national progress. She showcased Sierra Leone’s progress through institutions such as the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), the Ministry of Innovation, and with support from President Bio, academia, NGOs, the private sector, and development partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Ms. Egbanda cited notable initiatives such as SmartKorpor’s digitised non-tax revenue system (funded by AfDB), Albert Gulama’s Integrated Trade Services platform, and innovations by local inventors as evidence of the need to embed IP education into entrepreneurship and economic development strategies.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Communications Technology Innovation, Madam Salima Bah, highlighted Africa’s growing digital economy, which could generate $712 billion in value and create up to 230 million jobs by 2030. She noted Sierra Leone’s proactive approach through its National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy (NIES), which aims to *“attract innovation, empower creators, and retain value.”* She pointed out the importance of regional collaboration through ARIPO to harmonise IP laws, protect innovation, and ensure African creators are rewarded *“not just in applause, but in income.”
Minister of Trade and Industry, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, reinforced the view that intellectual property is no longer limited to specialised sectors but is now a strategic driver of trade, innovation, and cultural identity. He affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive IP policies and infrastructure that support SMEs, youth, and women while promoting IP education at all levels of society.