The doctoral dissertation in the field of International Economic Law will be examined at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, Joensuu Campus.
What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?
My doctoral research examines how West African states can strategically harness intellectual property (IP) regulation to advance their economic and trade interests, particularly in negotiations where IP is a central issue. Framed within the broader field of international economic law, the study explores the growing significance of IP in global trade governance.
IP provisions now shape critical areas such as innovation, market access, and sustainable development. From food and medicine to fashion and technology, IP and trade affect our everyday lives. Yet many developing countries, including those in West Africa, enter negotiations from a position of legal fragmentation and limited institutional capacity. This research explores how a more coherent and context-sensitive approach to IP regulation can strengthen regional negotiating power and contribute to long-term economic resilience.
What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?
My research reveals that West Africa’s IP systems are shaped by complex historical legacies and remain largely fragmented, limiting the region’s capacity to negotiate effectively in international trade. This lack of coherence weakens collective bargaining power and impedes alignment with local development priorities. Drawing on insights from the CARIFORUM–EU agreement, the study shows that regional legal harmonisation, when grounded in local realities, can reposition IP from a constraint into a tool for economic strategy. These findings contribute to academic discussions on postcolonial legal reform and offer practical guidance to policymakers – both within and beyond West Africa – on improving trade outcomes through coordinated, development-oriented IP regulation.
How can the results of your doctoral research be utilised in practice?
The results of my research can inform regional policymaking and guide future trade negotiations involving IP. In particular, they support efforts to promote legal harmonisation that reflects the socio-economic realities of West African states, enhance institutional readiness to engage in complex IP negotiations, and align national frameworks with emerging continental initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its Intellectual Property Protocol. More broadly, the findings contribute to ongoing global discussions about how IP can be regulated in a way that supports development objectives through trade.
What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?
My research employs a combination of legal analysis, comparative legal methods, and critical theory. It includes a close examination of international treaties, national intellectual property laws, and regional instruments, as well as trade agreements such as the EU–ECOWAS Economic Partnership Agreement and the CARIFORUM–EU EPA. The study also draws on theoretical frameworks such as Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) and path dependency theory, which help situate the legal challenges within broader historical and political contexts.
The doctoral dissertation of Juliet A. Ogbodo, MICL, entitled The nexus between intellectual property and trade: Advancing West Africa's Economic (Partnership) Objectives through Optimally Harmonised Intellectual Property Regulation will be examined at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. The opponents will be Professor Chidi Oguamanam (University of Ottawa) and Dr, Senior Lecturer Titilayo Adebola (University of Aberdeen), and the custos will be Professor Katja Weckström, University of Eastern Finland. Language of the public defence is English.
Doctoral dissertation (soon to come)