History of APIDE
The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) created in December 2004 during the 44th ordinary session of its Board of Directors held in Cotonou, Benin, a training, research and knowledge and information sharing center specializing in intellectual property called the Denis Ekani Training Center (CFDE).
The Centre, whose activities were launched on September 13, 2005, will become the Denis EKANI Intellectual Property Academy (APIDE) at the 52nd Ordinary Session of the Board of Directors of the Organization held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau in 2012. The academy owes its name to Master Denis EKANI, former Director General of OAPI from 1965 to 1984.
Missions
APIDE's main missions are training, research, and the dissemination of knowledge in the field of intellectual property. In this capacity, it is responsible for:
- to organize study cycles in intellectual property;
- to ensure the ongoing training and retraining of actors and users of the intellectual property system;
- to organise courses and training seminars covering the various aspects of intellectual property and related fields;
- to organise meetings on current issues in intellectual property law;
- to initiate and promote studies on current issues in intellectual property law.
APIDE has a Documentation Centre with a variety of works relating to intellectual property and related subjects.
Training opportunities
The Academy offers a diverse range of training programs implemented in collaboration with universities, higher education institutions, and partner offices and organizations. APIDE's training program is structured as follows:
- degree programs;
- certification courses;
- OAPI forum;
- webinars;
- training courses on demand.
Pedagogy and quality
APIDE's educational approach is based on a quality-driven approach built around excellence:
- From the faculty: APIDE benefits from the support of top specialists from African and European universities, OAPI technical services, National Liaison Structures (NLS) with OAPI, partner offices and institutions, OAPI-approved agent firms, and partner institutions. These experts contribute to developing and strengthening the diversity and expertise of APIDE's training programs.
- infrastructure: Training sessions take place both at APIDE at the OAPI headquarters, which has quality infrastructure and equipment, in member states and online.
- Educational organization: Training courses are organized in an optimal educational environment through the limitation of class sizes and the diversification of teaching methods built around discussions, case studies, simulations, workshops, exchanges of experiences, etc.
Governance
APIDE has a Scientific Committee of seven (07) members composed of academics, professionals and representatives of OAPI appointed by the Board of Directors of the Organization for a renewable term of two (02) years and a Directorate in charge of administrative and educational management.
APIDE Scientific Committee
Professor Joseph FOMETEU
Full Professor of Private Law at the University of Ngaoundéré
Members
Professor ALLA KOFFI Etienne
Senior Lecturer, CAMES-certified in private law at Félix-Houpht-Boigny University
Dr. Yvon Laurier NGOMBE
Lawyer at the Paris Court of Appeal, President of the Association for the Promotion of Intellectual Property in Africa
Isabelle EKEME, wife of MBOME
Authorized representative with the OAPI
Mr. Simon OUEDRAGO
Expert, Consultant, and Trainer in Copyright and Related Rights
Mr. Guy Francis BOUSSAFOU
Director of Patents and Other Technical Creations at OAPI
Mrs. NNOKO Magui
Director of Foresight and Cooperation at OAPI
APIDE Management
Mr. Mahamadi Tassembedo
Director of APIDE
Mr. Aimé BROU KOUAKOU
Head of the Programs and Training Department
Mrs. Crésence Anita NANYOU KANYOU
Administrative Assistant
Mr. Ervais EDOU
Head of Academic Affairs and Scholarships
Partnership
As part of fulfilling its mission, the OAPI has established partnerships with key players in the intellectual property and innovation ecosystem worldwide. These partnerships reflect OAPI's commitment to providing its member states and staff with the expertise and skills essential for developing their activities. The main partners are:
Partner Universities and Schools:
- University of Yaoundé II SOA (Cameroon);
- Thomas Sankara University (Burkina Faso);
- Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (Ivory Coast);
- Higher Regional School of Magistrates (ERSUMA) (Benin);
- National Higher Polytechnic School of the University of Yaoundé I (Cameroon).
Offices and Partner Organizations:
- Academy of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Switzerland;
- Japan Patent Office (JPO), Japan;
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), Canada;
- Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI), France;
- Intellectual Property Training Center (CNIPA), China;
- European Institute for Business and Intellectual Property (IEEPI), Spain;
- International Trademark Association (INTA), United States of America;
- International federation of reproduction rights organizations (IFRRO), Belgium;
- National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), France;
- Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), Morocco;
- European Patent Office (EPO), Germany;
- International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), Switzerland;
- European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), Spain.
Key figures
- 494 auditors trained in the master's program in intellectual property;
- 15 auditors trained in the Professional Master's program for Engineer-Patent;
- 21 auditors trained in the Certificate of Aptitude for Collective Management (CAGeC);
- 68 auditors trained in the African Geographical Indications Training Programme (Africa GI Training);
- 13 Industrial property agents and consultants trained in the new procedure for granting invention patents at OAPI.
Practical information
Registration
Applications for the various training courses should be sent to the Denis Ekani Intellectual Property Academy (APIDE) by physical delivery or by mail, specifying the title of the training course and the names and qualifications of the participant.
Address : 158 Rue Hyppodrome, Place de la Préfecture
Post Office Box : BP: 887 Yaoundé (Cameroon)
Phone : (237) 222 20 57 00 / 222 20 57 67
Email : apide@oapi.int
Website : www.oapi.int
