William V. S. Tubman High School celebrates with their symbolic $1,000 check after winning Liberia’s inaugural National High School Club Competition.
Monrovia – William V. S. Tubman High School has emerged as the champion in Liberia’s inaugural National High School Club Competition, a groundbreaking initiative by the Liberian government to promote intellectual property (IP) education among youth.
By Claudius T. Greene, Jr., contributing Writer
This milestone event, held on Monday, November 11, 2024, at the Monrovia City Hall, piloted in five schools, concluded with Tubman High securing victory over four other finalists, earning a US$1,000 cash prize and the chance for further recognition on the global stage.
Spiritan Academy and Maretha Preparatory High School took second and third places, awarded $700 and $500, respectively. The competition encouraged students to explore IP’s impact on sustainable development goals (SDGs) through presentations, role play, and quizzes covering copyright, related rights, and trademark issues.
Spiritan Academy and Maretha Preparatory High School, proud first and second runners-up, display their awards of $700 and $500, respectively.
Judged by experts such as IP law specialist Cllr. Philip Kangar, Musicians Union of Liberia Secretary General Zubin Cooper, and head judge Cllr. Fanta Barclay, the competition highlighted exceptional creativity and IP knowledge from each school. Cllr. Barclay remarked, “The results reflect the strength of each school’s performance across various categories.”
Hosted by the Liberia Intellectual Property Office with support from the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization, the event embraced the theme, “Intellectual Property and the Creative Industries: Perfect Tool for Development.” The theme underscored IP’s role as a catalyst for economic and cultural advancement.
As the top winner, Tubman High will send its best-performing student and a teacher to Zimbabwe for a regional competition, where they’ll represent Liberia in an international arena while other team members participate online.
Hon. Garmai Koboi, Director General of LIPO, remarked, “Today’s event—the culmination of our first-ever Intellectual Property High School Club Competition—marks a significant step in the Government of Liberia’s efforts to nurture innovation, creativity, and respect for intellectual property rights among Liberia’s young minds.
To all participants, your dedication has ignited a spark that will illuminate the future of Liberia’s intellectual and creative landscape.”
She extended congratulations to the winners, adding, “Your prizes will empower you to implement impactful projects within your schools, inspiring your peers and enriching your educational environment.”
Hon. Daniel O. Sando, Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, who spoke on behalf of Hon. Jerolinmek M. Piah, Minister of MICAT, conveyed greetings from Minister Piah, stating, “The Ministry is committed to working with LIPO to educate our future leaders on intellectual property. This competition is a meaningful start in enlightening young people about IP and preparing them for a world where intellectual rights are essential.”
Hon. Clarence H. Cole, Deputy Director General for Copyright, provided an overview of the IP Club initiative, explaining, “The WIPO-ARIPO IP Club Project seeks to educate youth about intellectual property rights and build respect for IP. This year, teachers from five high schools received training from the WIPO Academy, establishing IP Clubs on their campuses to instill IP awareness among students.”
The competition’s theme, “Intellectual Property and the Creative Industries: A Perfect Tool for Development,” encouraged students to understand IP’s impact on achieving social and economic development. The Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) expressed gratitude to its sponsors, emphasizing that the IP Club initiative would expand to more high schools across Liberia in future editions.
As the national champions, Tubman High School’s student and teacher will attend a regional competition in Zimbabwe in December 2024, marking Liberia’s entry into a broader dialogue on intellectual property and reinforcing the country’s commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and respect for IP rights among its youth.
