William V. S. Tubman High School has emerged as the winner in Liberia’s inaugural National High School Intellectual Property (IP) Club Competition, a groundbreaking initiative by the Liberian government to promote intellectual property (IP) education among youth.
William V. S. Tubman High School emerged as the champion in Liberia’s inaugural National High School Club Competition, organized by the Government of Liberia to promote intellectual property (IP) education among the nation’s youth.
The competition, piloted in five selected schools, concluded in an exciting final round, in which Tubman High bested four other participants. Spiritan Academy and Maretha Preparatory High School finished as the first and second runners-up, respectively. Innovation Preparatory International Academy and St. Teresa Convent Catholic High School were also contenders.
Tubman High School’s victory earned them a cash prize of $1,000. Spiritan Academy received $700 for second place, and Maretha Preparatory took home $500 as the third-place prize.
Students showcased their understanding of intellectual property, focusing on copyright, related rights, and IP’s impact on sustainable development goals (SDGs). Each team presented their IP Club projects through engaging presentations, role plays, and quizzes on essential IP topics, including copyright, related rights, and trademarks.
A distinguished panel of judges presided over the competition, including Cllr. Philip Kangar, an IP law expert; Zubin Cooper, Secretary General of the Musicians Union of Liberia; and Cllr. Fanta Barclay, an IP lawyer who served as head judge.
“We are all winners,” noted Cllr. Barclay. “The results reflect each school’s strong performance across categories, including IP-related projects, role plays, and quizzes on copyright, related rights, and trademark.”
The Government of Liberia organized the competition in partnership with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The event’s theme, “Intellectual Property and the Creative Industries: Perfect Tool for Development,” highlighted IP’s role as a driver of economic and cultural growth.
As the winning team, William V. S. Tubman High School is expected to select the best-performing student along with one teacher to travel to Zimbabwe for a regional competition, while other participants will join online.
