United Dawah Ummah High School Crowned National Champions in Intellectual Property Competition
The United Dawah Ummah High School has been declared the national champion of the 2025 National Intellectual Property High School Club Competition. The school triumphed over five other finalist institutions in a highly competitive event held on July 11 at the YMCA Conference Hall.
The competition, organized by the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) and supported by the Ministries of Education and Commerce, featured a panel of esteemed judges. Sister Mary Laurene Browne, OSF, served as Chief Judge, with Llord Aidoo and Abdul Karim Sheriff acting as co-judges.
Sister Mary Laurene Browne commended the students for their deep understanding of complex intellectual property (IP) concepts such as copyrights, related rights, piracy, patents, and industrial designs. “Every one of you here today is a winner,” she said. “While one school emerges as champion, you are all champions for learning something important.”
United Dawah Ummah High School was declared the winner after delivering an impressive performance, followed by Lott Carey Baptist Mission School as first runner-up and Ganta United Methodist High School as second runner-up. As the champion, United Dawah Ummah received a cash prize of LRD 100k, while Lott Carey received LRD 60k and Ganta United Methodist received LRD 45k.
The journey to the national final began with county-level qualifiers, where United Dawah Ummah emerged as the Montserrado County champion, and Lott Carey as first runner-up. Ganta United Methodist advanced as the Nimba County champion, with J.W. Pearson High School as first runner-up. W.P.L. Brumskine High School represented Bassa County, with Bassa High School as first runner-up.
The national final marked the conclusion of a six-month-long initiative that started earlier this year. It involved over 200 students from 13 schools across Montserrado, Nimba, and Grand Bassa Counties. The competition aimed to raise awareness about IP rights and encourage creativity through academic engagement.
Abdul Karim Sheriff, co-judge and President of the Liberia Movie Union, praised the participants for their outstanding performances. He highlighted their potential to contribute to Liberia’s creative and knowledge-based economy. “Understanding IP is not easy, so seeing students demonstrate this with such ease makes me proud,” he said. Sheriff also expressed support for expanding the competition to reach more young people across the country.
Launched in 2024, the competition is a groundbreaking effort to address the lack of IP literacy among high school students in Liberia. It aligns with the ARREST Agenda, which emphasizes human capital development as a key driver of inclusive national growth. The initiative serves as an extracurricular activity that promotes awareness of IP rights and fosters practical creativity through competitive engagement.
In a post-competition statement, Hon. Garmai Koboi, Director General of LIPO, described the event as more than just a contest. She emphasized its role as a platform for young minds to explore the impact of IP on future development. “From great performances to compelling presentations, the energy and enthusiasm were truly inspiring,” she said. “What we witnessed at the final was the power of imagination, innovation, and intellectual curiosity.”
Koboi added that her administration looks forward to nurturing the next generation of IP champions who will continue to innovate, protect, and inspire. The competition has proven to be a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their understanding of IP and how creativity can be protected and celebrated.
