The AfCFTA Secretariat marked Africa IP Day 2026 under the theme “Growing Business Under the AfCFTA IP Ecosystem”, and recognised six African innovators, entrepreneurs and creators from Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda for demonstrating how intellectual property can be translated into businesses, technologies and solutions of practical economic and social value.
The commemoration is the first held since the adoption of the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights and eight(8) of its nine(9) Annexes, which established a continental intellectual property framework that is the first of its kind. The Protocol and its Annexes aim to support African innovation and creativity by establishing consistent intellectual property policies across the continent and an inclusive continental ecosystem in support of intra-African trade.
The programme brought together policymakers, intellectual property practitioners, innovators, creators, private sector representatives and finance experts. Its centrepiece was a panel discussion on “the conundrum of growing intangible asset-based businesses and investment in a fragmented African intellectual property context”, examining how the AfCFTA IP Ecosystem can support the protection, commercialisation, access to finance and expansion of African intangible assets-based businesses and investments across the AfCFTA market.
“Africa’s ideas, brands, inventions and creative works should not lose their value at the border. With the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights and its Annexes, we now have the continental framework to ensure they do not. Protecting African innovation is a business, investment and trade imperative, and the work ahead is to make that framework usable by the innovators and enterprises it was designed to serve.”
Under “My IP Story” African experiences that demonstrate how intellectual property could contribute to value creation and business growth were recognised, with a focus on:
Chioma Rosemary Onyekaba of Nigeria, Founder of Beauty & Brains Foundation Printing Press Nigeria, received the Gold Medal. An author, entrepreneur, creative and publisher, she represents the growing community of African creatives using intellectual property as part of building and growing their businesses.
John Wobil of Ghana, an electrical engineer, inventor, rice farmer and co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wobil Technologies Limited, received the Silver Medal. He develops locally manufactured agricultural technologies, including the patent-pending Multi-Stage Rice Thresher and Solar-Powered Grain Winnower. He was second-prize winner in the 2022 WIPO World IP Day Youth Video Competition.
Grace Akatuha of Uganda, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kikazi Agri-Products Limited, received the Bronze Medal. Kikazi transforms indigenous foods, including finger millet and cassava, into high-quality flours for modern consumers. Through value addition, the company helps preserve Africa’s food heritage while creating livelihoods and opportunities for smallholder farmers.
The SG Prize recognised exceptional accomplishments involving the use or generation of intellectual property within the context of the AfCFTA. This year’s recipients work across healthcare, agriculture, energy and environmental sustainability.
The awardees include:
Fade Elisee of Benin, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of UP ELEC SARL, received Gold. An entrepreneur and engineer specialising in biomedical engineering and health innovation, he develops medical solutions adapted to African realities, including a Made-in-Benin neonatal heating table designed to improve the care of newborns.
Theophile Kamgang Nzeuleu of Cameroon received Silver. An entrepreneur and agroecology expert, he is the founder of Ticket des Jeunes and the inventor and developer of BioGenix. His work focuses on biotechnological solutions for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, with the aim of making sustainable agriculture more accessible, profitable and scalable for African farmers.
Ejikeme Patrick Nwosu of Nigeria received Bronze. A scientist, inventor and entrepreneur holding seven invention patents, he has developed patented technologies that form the foundation of Lumos Laboratories Nigeria Limited. These have been developed into commercial solutions that convert waste into clean energy and other useful products, generating commercial value while addressing environmental and energy challenges.
From framework to practice
Together, the six awardees reflect the breadth of African innovation, from publishing and creative enterprise to agricultural technology, agro-processing, biotechnology, healthcare and clean energy. Their recognition points to a central dimension of Africa’s economic integration: African ideas, inventions, brands and creative works need to be protected, commercialised and scaled across markets if they are to retain their value on the continent.
Discussions during the commemoration reinforced the importance of an intellectual property ecosystem that goes beyond protecting ideas and enables African innovators and businesses to derive commercial value from them and participate more effectively in the continental market. Through the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights and its Annexes, Africa now has the instruments to strengthen that environment. The priority is implementation.
Africa IP Day 2026 was organised by the Intellectual Property Rights Division of the AfCFTA Secretariat, under the project “AfCFTA Intellectual Property Convergence of Practices”.