A Call For a New System of Protection for African Knowledge and Culture

Intellectual Property Rights (IRP) Conference

December 2005  - The Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) within the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology hosted an international IPR conference in Abuja, Nigeria December 1-3, 2005.  PROMETRA International hosted an exhibit booth and participated in the conference through the presentation of its work and experience in the area of protection African traditional knowledge.  Recognizing the importance of traditional knowledge, science and culture to the positive development of Africa, this conference called upon the world to formulate a meaningful intellectual property rights protection mechanism that addresses the needs of Africa. Issues regarding individual versus communal ownership, patent protection,  and benefit sharing mechanisms were addressed in this conference.  The minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner T. Isoun opened the conference with a welcome address, and Professor Maurice Iwu was the keynote speaker.

IPR Conference participants visits

PROMETRA's exibit booth.

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