Martina Baindu Egbenda, Administrator and Registrar General and leading presidential candidate in the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) elections, is participating in an international executive programme on intellectual property management in Gatineau, Québec, Canada.
Egbenda is attending the World Intellectual Property Organization–Canadian Intellectual Property Office (WIPO-CIPO) Executive Programme, organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). The programme runs from October 5 to 9, 2026.
The specialised capacity-building programme is designed to strengthen the leadership and strategic management capabilities of senior intellectual property (IP) officials. It provides participants with practical tools and insights to improve service delivery, modernise IP administration and respond to the changing global intellectual property landscape.
Egbenda’s participation comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen intellectual property administration and promote digital transformation in Sierra Leone.
In June 2026, the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), convened a workshop in Freetown on ARIPO’s online services.
The workshop highlighted the importance of digital transformation, efficient intellectual property administration and stronger institutional capacity in supporting innovation and economic growth.
Egbenda is a legal practitioner whose professional experience includes legal research, project management, administration and legal advisory services. Her participation in the programme provides an opportunity to engage with international approaches to intellectual property management and institutional development.
The WIPO-CIPO Executive Programme forms part of broader efforts to equip senior officials with the knowledge and skills needed to improve the delivery of intellectual property services. Through specialised training and professional engagement, the programme supports stronger IP institutions, effective administration and an environment that encourages innovation and economic development.
