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ABUJA, Nigeria — Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, has received the All Africa Intellectual Property Leadership and Continental Integration Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contribution to advancing Africa’s trade, industrialisation and continental integration agenda.

The award was presented during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the All Africa Intellectual Property Summit (AAIPS) to the AfCFTA Secretariat on the sidelines of the 18th Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade in Abuja, Nigeria.

Led by AAIPS Chairman Sand Mba Kalu, the delegation commended Mene for his leadership in steering the implementation of the AfCFTA and strengthening the continent’s economic integration efforts.

The visit also reaffirmed the commitment of both institutions to harness intellectual property as a catalyst for trade, industrial development and the growth of Africa’s creative economy. Discussions further explored closer collaboration ahead of the 7th All Africa Intellectual Property Summit, scheduled for November 2026 in Nairobi, as well as the implementation of the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Rights Protocol.

Presenting the award, Kalu described Mene as a visionary leader whose stewardship has transformed the AfCFTA from a landmark agreement into a practical platform for trade, industrial development and economic opportunity across Africa.

“Under your leadership, the AfCFTA has continued to move from aspiration to implementation, from political commitment to practical economic opportunity, and from continental vision to an operational framework capable of reshaping Africa’s trade future,” Kalu said.

He noted that the recognition celebrates Mene’s contribution to connecting African markets, empowering businesses and positioning trade as a driver of shared prosperity across the continent.

Kalu also called for a stronger institutional partnership between the AfCFTA Secretariat and AAIPS to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Rights Protocol.

“The time has now come to move from goodwill to structure, from participation to partnership, and from occasional engagement to a formal continental collaboration,” he said.

Responding, Mene welcomed the proposal for deeper cooperation, describing the partnership between the AfCFTA Secretariat and AAIPS as essential to advancing Africa’s industrialisation and innovation agenda.

“The Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights is not just a legal instrument. It is an opportunity for us as a continent to leverage intellectual property to advance industrial development, strengthen public health through local pharmaceutical production, and reduce over-reliance on imports,” Mene said.

The AfCFTA Secretary-General also noted that negotiations on all AfCFTA protocols had been concluded, with the focus now firmly on implementation.

“We have to accelerate implementation and deepen collaboration with the private sector because it is the private sector that will ensure that we see the benefits of this Agreement,” he added.

The award highlights the growing alignment between Africa’s trade and intellectual property agendas and reinforces the commitment of both institutions to strengthen collaboration in promoting innovation, industrialisation and the effective implementation of the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Rights Protocol as key drivers of the continent’s economic transformation.

Story by Mark Acheampong