“Safeguard Africa’s Research”, Prof. Mwakaje Urges Stronger IP Protection at Distinguished ARUA Lecture Series
By Zamda George, CMU
Professor Saudin Jacob Mwakaje of the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law (UDSoL) has underscored the urgent need for stronger protection and management of intellectual property rights (IPRs) to secure Africa’s research and innovation outputs.
Delivering the 3rd Annual African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Distinguished Public Lecture at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) on 29th August 2025, Prof. Mwakaje warned that without robust IPR systems, African universities risk losing their innovations and discoveries to external exploitation.
Speaking on the theme “Exploring the Intersections of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Research Management: Options, Challenges, and Prospects for Universities in Africa”, Prof. Mwakaje emphasised that universities must place intellectual property at the heart of their research management strategies.
“African universities must strengthen their research management systems and establish robust intellectual property offices that encourage patenting of products, processes, and designs, safeguard trade secrets, and enforce copyright for effective knowledge transfer and commercialisation,” he stressed.
He further called for the integration of intellectual property training into academic programmes, stronger collaboration with industry, and advocacy for supportive national and regional policies on IPR. “Only through these pathways can we transform our research outputs into innovations that create real value and impact for society,” he added.
Prof. Mwakaje, a Professor of Law specialising in Intellectual Property Rights and the Chief Corporate Counsel and Secretary to Council at UDSM, also urged African governments, academia, and industry to work closely together in developing effective research management frameworks. He warned that weak IPR systems leave universities vulnerable to knowledge piracy, undermining Africa’s capacity to capitalise on its intellectual wealth.
Academic Dialogue on Pressing Issues
UDSM Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye, highlighted the importance of the ARUA Distinguished Public Lecture series in stimulating academic dialogue on critical developmental issues and reaffirming the agency of African academics in shaping the continent’s future.
“Today’s gathering under the auspices of ARUA reminds us of our shared mission: to reposition African universities at the centre of knowledge production, innovation, and transformation,” he noted, commending Prof. Mwakaje for advancing thinking on how universities can safeguard their innovations and translate them into societal impact.
ARUA General Secretary, Prof. John Owusu Gyapong, reinforced this view, noting that intellectual property is a cornerstone of research management. He urged universities across Africa to embed IPR firmly into their research strategies. “For Africa to achieve meaningful progress in higher education and research, institutions must invest in policies and structures that protect innovation,” he stated.
Intellectual property: the foundation of innovation protection
The UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Prof. Nelson Boniface, stressed that intellectual property is the foundation for how universities protect innovation, facilitate knowledge transfer, and translate research into economic and social value.
“For African universities striving to compete globally while addressing local development needs, effective management of intellectual property is both a challenge and an opportunity,” said Prof. Boniface.
The lecture drew a wide audience of academics, researchers, policymakers, students, and other stakeholders. Chaired by Dr. Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Rhodes University, South Africa, it was both colorful and intellectually engaging.
The event reinforced UDSM’s role as a hub of high-level scholarly debate and ARUA’s commitment to advancing Africa’s research agenda through collaborative platforms. Participants, both onsite and online, raised thought-provoking questions on how African universities can improve knowledge transfer, safeguard indigenous knowledge, and leverage intellectual property for socio-economic transformation.
As UDSM marks this successful hosting of the ARUA Distinguished Public Lecture, Prof. Mwakaje’s call remains clear: for Africa to advance in science, research, and innovation, intellectual property must be safeguarded, effectively managed, and transformed into tangible benefits for its people.