Libreville, October 8, 2025 – Africa is brilliantly asserting its brand culture. The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) has officially launched the 5th edition of the OAPI Brand Awards, a flagship event dedicated to promoting the identity, innovation, and competitiveness of African businesses.
This edition opened with two highlights: the launch of the Awareness Caravan on the importance of intellectual property, and a luncheon debate on the thought-provoking theme: "Brands: Luxury or Necessity for a Company?". These initiatives highlighted the strategic role of brands in the economic transformation of the continent.
The Gabonese Minister of Industry and Local Transformation, Mr. Lubin Ntoutoume, emphatically reiterated that "intellectual property is not a luxury reserved for large multinational corporations, but a tool for economic development accessible to all." This powerful message resonates with the ambitions of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI).
The Director General of OAPI, Mr. Denis Bohoussou, emphasized that "brands are a strategic asset, the primary channel through which African innovations reach consumers." This statement perfectly illustrates OAPI's vision: to make intellectual property a sustainable driver of growth, employment, and competitiveness in Africa.
The event continues on October 9 with the gala dinner, an emblematic moment of this edition, during which the winners of the OAPI Brand Awards 2025 will be revealed.
