Joy, jubilation and ululation were the order of the day in Maputo, Mozambique as St Joseph’s College was announced as the winner of the Regional Competition for School Intellectual Property Clubs.

The announcement was made on the 22nd November 2022 during the 46th Session of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization Administrative Council. The School IP Clubs is an initiative by the

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and funded through Korea Funds-In-Trust, whose objective is to create awareness on the value of intellectual property amongst school students.

The goal is to create a generation that is aware of how their innovation and creativity can be protected through IP in order to build competitive and viable business enterprises. Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe were selected as the first beneficiaries of the project, with St Joseph’s College, Matlala JSS and Gabane JSS establishing IP Clubs. A local competition saw St Joseph’s emerge as the school selected to represent Botswana at the finals in Maputo, Mozambique. St Joseph’s college presented a short film on intellectual property rights which the students scripted, acted in and produced themselves. When announcing Botswana as the winner, the lead judge informed the Administrative Council that the main criteria to select the winning school was the presentation of a project that had a significant impact on raising awareness on IP in the school community and beyond. Zimbabwe emerged with the second place position whilst Malawi was announced as the third prize winner. To the St Joseph’s College Intellectual Property Club, congratulations! Re motlotlo ka lona!