June 26, 2026 – OAPI Auditorium. Joy and pride mingled with excellence to conclude this exceptional academic and human adventure. The 2025-2026 cohort has officially come to an end.
After several months of learning, research, exchanges and sharing, the Denis Ekani Intellectual Property Academy (APIDE) of OAPI celebrated the official graduation of the 16th class of the Master in Intellectual Property, one of the leading programs in Africa in the field.
At the end of this year's program, 39 participants received their diplomas during a formal ceremony, marking the graduation of a new generation of professionals better equipped to meet the challenges of innovation, creation, and development. A few days earlier, the candidates presented their work to a jury of experts and seasoned professors in their respective fields. This decisive step marked the culmination of their academic journey.
A quality program that leverages a skilled human capital
Led by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), this program continues to establish itself as a benchmark in the training of intellectual property specialists in Africa. The ceremony brought together key partners, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the University of Yaoundé II, and the Government of Japan through its trust fund, whose ongoing support has contributed to the success of this high-quality training program for many years.
The ceremony began with a presentation of the summary of the final report for this edition by Professor Christophe Seuna, Rapporteur of the Steering Committee for the Master's program. His presentation highlighted the academic achievements of the participants as well as the main accomplishments of this 16th edition.
A key point to remember from the various speeches given by the Counselor at the Embassy of Japan in Cameroon, representing the Ambassador, the representative of the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education of Cameroon and the Director General of OAPI, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Master: intellectual property is today a strategic lever for economic development, competitiveness and the enhancement of the creative potential of nations.
A moment where merit meets excellence
One of the highlights of the day was the announcement of the winners of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academic Excellence Awards, recognizing the most deserving students in the graduating class. The presentation of the awards, followed by the awarding of diplomas, evoked strong emotions among the audience, reflecting the pride of the graduates, their families, the teachers, and the program partners.
Speaking on behalf of his classmates, the student representative expressed their gratitude to the partner institutions, the teaching staff and the steering committee who contributed to this collective success.
Beyond the academic results, this 16th edition was above all a rich human experience, marked by the diversity of profiles, the sharing of knowledge and the building of lasting professional networks.
With this new class, OAPI and its partners confirm their commitment to training high-level experts capable of supporting the economic and technological transformations of their organizations and countries, but also of promoting a culture of intellectual property in the service of development.
The 16th graduating class of the Master's program in Intellectual Property has joined the APIDE Alumni network. Congratulations to the graduates, now ambassadors of excellence and innovation.
