-As she takes over
By Jerromie S. Walters
Appointed on February 20, 2024, as Director General of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Madam Garmai Koboi is unarguably one of the brightest young Liberian women who continue to break the glass ceiling, considering her passionate service at LIPO from beneath, to her astonishing resurgence in 2024, at the highest seat of the entity (LIPO).
Madam Garmai Koboi is one of the youngest cabinets of Mr. Boakai’s administration and one of the youngest females that has held the position at LIPO and even on the continent. Many are convinced that the President must have vividly seen her indescribable potential before entrusting her with such an ardent post.
This doesn’t appear strange as she hasn’t allowed her gender or age to hinder her growth, as she has remained a hard-working, knowledgeable, and target-oriented person with more than ten years of experience in Intellectual Property along with strong organizational and time management ability, skilled in planning, scheduling, and meeting tight deadlines. As a trailblazer and believer of the ideology, “Not too young to lead”, the newest LIPO Boss carries a loaded experience, especially in Intellectual Property. More to this, she comes to the job with a transformative plan that endeavors to ensure that the entity progresses and President Boakai’s agenda works.
Koboi: “Ladies and gentlemen, as I step into this role, I am acutely aware of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and I am committed to repositioning the Liberia Intellectual Property Office to achieve its founding objective of seeing Intellectual Property become the underlying tools that drive our socio-economic development.”
What’s on her plate?
In a taking-over message on Monday, March 25, 2024, the Liberia Intellectual Property Office Boss, Garmai Koboi, outlined her vision for the entity. Koboi emphasized the importance of recognizing intellectual property as a crucial tool for economic development, cultural preservation, and social empowerment. She stated her commitment to repositioning the Liberia Intellectual Property Office to fulfill its founding objective of promoting intellectual property as a driver of socio-economic development.
Koboi’s administration aims to strengthen the capacity of the office to administer and protect intellectual property assets effectively. One key focus will be the development of strategic plans and regulations to govern the operations of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office. She emphasized that there will be a departure from business as usual, with all activities and engagements with stakeholders being guided by a strategic approach to ensure results-driven outcomes.
Central to Koboi’s vision is the undertaking of a comprehensive study on the contribution of intellectual property to the Liberian economy. This study will assess the current state of the country’s intellectual property ecosystem, providing empirical data on its economic impact, including job creation, GDP growth, and the cost of intellectual property theft. The study aims to shed light on the future monetary value of Liberia’s intellectual property ecosystem.
Director General Garmai Koboi of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office also announced a study that is set to revolutionize the intellectual property ecosystem in Liberia. The study’s findings are poised to shape future policy decisions and regulations based on data-driven insights. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s intellectual property landscape, promising unprecedented attention and awareness in the field.
One of the key highlights of the study she says is its alignment with President Boakai’s ARREST agenda, which focuses on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. By integrating intellectual property considerations into these sectoral policies, the study aims to contribute to Liberia’s national development agenda and enhance economic growth. Director General Koboi emphasized the pivotal role of intellectual property in driving innovation across various sectors, including agriculture, education, tourism, and infrastructure development.
The availability of robust economic data on intellectual property’s contributions to the Liberian economy is expected to strengthen the President’s ARREST Agenda and support the country’s development goals.
Furthermore, Director General Koboi outlined her vision for modernizing the operations of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office to streamline the registration process. The current paper-based system has resulted in inefficiencies and delays in IP registration. The proposed modernization efforts aim to simplify the application process, reduce administrative burdens, and provide applicants with greater transparency and efficiency in tracking their applications.
Moreover, Garmai Koboi, declosed an ambitious plan to modernize the country’s intellectual property system. The proposed system aims to streamline processes through a one-stop online registration portal and digitized IP records system. These upgrades, according to her, would introduce electronic processing to automate tasks like application reviews, fee calculations, and document generation, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of errors.
Koboi emphasized the crucial role of enforcement in driving Liberia’s knowledge-based economy, citing international studies that highlight the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. Despite the country’s creative industries showing promise, including music and movies, she believes a lack of robust enforcement mechanisms has deterred potential investors. Additionally, Director General Garmai Koboi vowed to take decisive action against piracy and intellectual property theft during her tenure. In a recent public statement, Koboi declared that piracy would not be allowed to flourish under her watch, whether in the open or the shadows. To effectuate this, Koboi outlined a two-pronged enforcement strategy to combat piracy in Liberia.
The second aspect of Koboi’s strategy focuses on prosecution. She emphasized the importance of holding individuals involved in piracy accountable for their actions, signaling a departure from the impunity with which such crimes have been committed in the past. Koboi stressed that pirates will now face the full force of the law, serving as a deterrent to potential infringers and demonstrating the government’s commitment to upholding intellectual property rights.
It was made known that the overarching goal of these enforcement measures is to create a legal framework that promotes respect for intellectual property rights, both domestically and internationally. By cracking down on piracy, the Liberia Intellectual Property Office aims to send a clear message of intolerance towards intellectual property theft while supporting a conducive environment for innovation and creativity.
In line with President Boakai’s development agenda, Koboi unveiled plans to promote creativity and innovation as national assets. Among the initiatives to be implemented is a focus on leveraging intellectual property to advance green technologies, waste management solutions, and sustainable practices to support the President’s Agenda for Relief and Recovery Empowerment through Sustainable Transformation (ARREST).
Furthermore, Koboi expressed the intention to incentivize inventors and entrepreneurs to drive innovation in sanitation technologies while preserving environmental innovations for the benefit of current and future generations.
Koboi also announced plans to collaborate with relevant government agencies to enhance Liberia’s image through tourism. Recognizing the economic potential and cultural exchange opportunities offered by tourism, Koboi outlined strategies to position Liberia as a premier tourist destination, showcasing its unique cultural heritage and natural attractions to attract investments in the tourism sector.
LIPO Director General Garmai Koboi expressed her commitment to taking charge of the challenges facing the country’s intellectual property ecosystem. In her statement, she acknowledged the complexity of the upcoming journey but assured the audience of her readiness to confront and resolve these issues.
She emphasized her determination, passion, and sense of duty in working toward President Boakai’s vision for a more inclusive, accountable, and prosperous nation.
Professional experience
For her professional experience, in 2023,
Madam Garmai Koboi worked as an IP Management Expert, in SMEs in Liberia.
In said role, she served diligently through
coaching a group of SMEs in helping them identify, protect, and leverage their intellectual assets to drive growth, innovation, and overall business success. She provided training and education to SMEs on IP management best practices, and helped employees understand the importance of protecting intellectual assets and fostering a culture of innovation within their businesses.
From 2022 to 2024, she worked as a Focus Person on Geographical Indications in Liberia. As a focus person on geographical indication in Liberia, she encompassed a wide range of activities aimed at safeguarding the integrity of products linked to specific geographic areas.
She worked to promote rural development and enhance market opportunities for local producers. Madam Garmai Koboi also worked with the ARIPO sub-working group on GIs in developing the Needs Assessments and Legal Gap(s) on the draft ARIPO protocol.
Before ascending to her current post, Madam Garmai Koboi spent several years being molded at the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), through simultaneous service in different roles.
Between 2017-2024, she worked as Procurement Officer at the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO). In said capacity, she was charged with the responsibility of preparing the LIPO procurement plan as contemplated by Section 40 of this Act and updating such plan as required, requesting quotation requests for proposals and bidding documents, including schedules and specifications.
She was also proactive in performing secretarial and administrative services for the LIPO Procurement Committee, ensuring that LIPO procurement procedures to be followed were in strict conformity with the provisions of the Act, its operating regulations, and guidelines, monitoring and administering the performance of contracts, assessing the quality of the procured goods, works, and services, maintaining a database of all suppliers, contractors, and consultants, and conducting other activities of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) outlined in Part IV of this Act relating to the foregoing as may be delegated and directed by the Procurement Committee or required by the regulations.
From 2016-2015, the current LIPO Boss served as Researcher Officer at the entity (LIPO). In this post, she populated LIPO archives & database with registered marks, Initiated the preparation of LIPO Gazette Journals & periodicals, and Performed comprehensive research of archives, and local, regional, and international trademark databases for marks applied for at LIPO by the applicants.
Between 2014-2012, she served as Database Clerk at the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO). In this role, she initiated all LIPO database entries and Scanned all supporting documents. As a Database Clerk at the Liberia Intellectual Property Office, she played a vital role in managing, organizing, and maintaining the intellectual property database, ensuring its accuracy, integrity, and accessibility for internal and external stakeholders.
From 2009-2011, she worked as an Account Clerk. In this position, she was responsible to
control Petty Cash, assist the Accountant as he deems necessary, prepare pay slips, assist in the preparation of financial reports and Budgets, raise vouchers for payment (payroll, goods, works, and services), and assist in the preparation of administrative receipts paid by clients to LIPO.
Education and Training
Madam Garmai Koboi has a rich academic credential as she holds a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property (MIP), from the Africa University Mutare in Zimbabwe (2019-2020).
In 2013, she obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree in Accounting, from Stella Maris Polytechnic, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia. In 2011, she obtained an Associate of Art (AA) Degree in Accounting from Stella Maris Polytechnic, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia
In 2023, she bagged a Certificate in Patent Law and Global Public Health, a joint program offered by WIPO- Harvard Law School, online.
In 2022, she obtained a Certificate in WIPO – South Africa Summer School on Intellectual Property and Transfer of Technology, WIPO – South Africa Online. Also in 2022, she obtained a Certificate in WIPO-KISTA Innovation Skills Development Camp (InnoCamp IP), IP–driven Research & Development (IP & R& D) from Ideation to Start-up) WIPO Academy Online.
Concomitantly, in 2022 she obtained a Certificate in WIPO-KISTA Innovation Skills Development Camp (InnoCamp IP): IP–driven Research & Development (IP & R& D) from Ideation to Start-up) WIPO Academy Online. Also in 2022, she bagged a Certificate in Specialize Course on The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, WIPO Distance Learning Course.
Moreover, between 2021-2023, she bagged a Certificate in Patent Examination with ARIPO & EPO, both online and in-person. In 2021, she obtained a Certificate in Promoting Public Awareness of IP from, the Japan Patent Office Online Training Course. In 2021, she obtained a Certificate in Advance Course on Collective Management of Copyright and Related Rights for Collective Management Organizations CMOs) WIPO Distance Learning Course.
In 2018, she obtained a Certificate in Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (LEVEL 3) UNDP & Govt. of Liberia through PPCC, Monrovia, Liberia, and In 2017, she obtained a Certificate in Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (LEVEL 2) UNDP & Govt. of Liberia through PPCC, Monrovia, Liberia.
The Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) is an Agency of Government under the Executive Branch, responsible for developing and promoting IP policies including the protection of rights deriving from Intellectual activity. LIPO was established by an Act of 2014, as a semi-autonomous agency
With over a decade of experience in intellectual property rights, coupled with a profound understanding of copyrights, it remains vivid that Madam Garmai Koboi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role at the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO).
