3-day African Ministerial Conference held in Dakar

African government officials gathered Nov. 3 for the three-day African Ministerial Conference 2015 in Dakar.

During the event, entitled "Intellectual Property for an Emerging Africa," African Union Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology Martial De Paul Ikounga spoke on behalf of Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Ikounga said it was imperative that intellectual property organizations in Africa urge African leaders to understand how to build a network "which will allow our youth to cross the Rubicon -- to break the glass ceiling and partake in the excitement of the inventor, to dare to become the first in their country, in the region and even the first in the world to propose a solution to a social ill.”

Ikounga expressed hope that the conference would lead to increased understanding and appreciation of the importance of the strategic use of the intellectual property system to help quell poverty in Africa.

More than 400 people, including 50 ministers responsible for intellectual property, attended the conference.