Yaoundé, June 12, 2026 – In an atmosphere of solemnity, the Director General of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Denis L. Bohoussou, received the insignia of Knight of the Order of Valour, which is the highest honorary distinction of the Republic of Cameroon.
The decoration was presented to him by the Governor of the Central Region, Paul Naseri Béa, personal representative of the Head of State, in front of an audience of guests including senior administrative officials, OAPI staff and about ten ambassadors of the Organization's member states accredited to Cameroon.
Beyond the man, it was an entire institution that was honored: "The country was grateful for all that he does to enhance and bring prestige to intellectual property activity in Cameroon and Africa," stressed the representative of the Head of State, recalling that this distinction constitutes a recognition of the work accomplished at the head of the Organization.
Visibly moved, Denis Bohoussou accepted this mark of confidence with humility, preferring to share this honor with the seventeen member states of OAPI, the Board of Directors, the staff of the Organization as well as all the partners who support its work: "This distinction does not only recognize a personal journey," he declared, believing that it also rewards more than sixty years of collective commitment to intellectual property as a tool for economic, technological and cultural development in Africa.
The Director General also paid tribute to Cameroon, the host country of OAPI headquarters. He commended the Cameroonian authorities for their unwavering support of the Organization, particularly during the critical period in its recent history marked by an organizational crisis. According to him, this support enabled the institution to overcome these challenges, maintain its cohesion, and pursue its mission of regional integration.
This award comes at a time when OAPI is strengthening its position as a major player in innovation and the promotion of African creative talent. Upon receiving this distinction, Denis Bohoussou reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing this mission with determination, serving innovation, African cooperation, and the sustainable development of OAPI member states.
