Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria.
Kenneth Okafor never embraced his
daughter's passion for creative art,
he had his sentiments and neverhesitated to express it…

Why won't you
just accept my view!
I've told you several
times that creative art is
not a girl’s thing and that
you'D be better off if you
invested your timein more important things…
Yet, you keep asking me
for moneyto registerfor the LDV Int. ArtCompetition.

Please,go and help
out in the kitchen,and stop wastingtime on art!
It's noteven a lucrativeventure.

But dad, creativity
has nothing to do withgender! I just love to express
myself through my drawings,
paintings and art generally!
I really believe I can makea massive impact throughmy creative art!

Wake up and smell
the coffee, young lady!
Even the competition you areentering for is named after aman “Leonardo Da Vinci!”
That alone should tell you
creative art is not REALLYA SPACE for ladies.

but dad,I could change that,
my works can become so
phenomenal that sometime infuture we can have a hugeart competition like this in
my name “IJEOMA OKAFORART COMPETITION.”ACCELERATE!
(Women in IP)
1

You dream
too much and yourdreams are unrealistic!
I'll advise you wakeup to the realworld.

Well, I've
good news, I
ACTUALLY applied foran art scholarship toenable me enter for
Following
the competition
this, I have beenand luckily
able to submit myI got it!
work for thecompetition twoweeks ago…

Ijeoma,have it your way
then you're oldenough to make decisions
yourself. I'm pretty
certain that soon
enough you will
however understandall I've been saying
to you…

Kenneth leaves the room quietly.

at least
at the end of the day,my making an attempt at
the competition will be awhole lot better thansitting back and givinga million excuses on
why I cannot!

I know mydad loves me, but
he clearly does notunderstand that mycreative expression as alady is really unique andcan open lucrativeand impactful
opportunities
for me.

Let me try
mum's number,
I hope I canget throughto her!

2

VINTEC HEADQUARTERS, MINNA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Nkiru Okafor, career woman, foremost
Nigerian A.I. Scientist, computer programmer.
*RETURNING A VOICE MESSAGE...*“Hello Ij, it's
great to hear yourvoice, and I'm sorry
I missed your calls.
Don't worry, I'm sure daddy
will eventually understand.
When I get home we can talkmore about it, but know that
I support you completely!
I have to run now,
I love you
sweetheart!”
Gosh!
Ijeoma has called
two times today andleft a voice note about
her art competition–
I really hope
she is alright!
THISRESEARCH I've
been working onin Vintec is graduallyeating me up.
I HOPE WE GET A
BREAKTHROUGH
SOON.

The intercom beams…

Ms Okafor,kindly see me in
my officeimmediately.

Okay, MD.

You
requested I
come over.

3

Ms Okafor,
I can't help noting the factthat before you started workon this innovative project, extensive
research had been carried out withno breakthrough on this first of its
kind technological innovationa “smart mirror” that will not justshow a person's reflection in it
but also, through the workof an A.I., show the person's
general health status, time
and weather update.

But Iwas wrong.

So, when theentire project
was handed overto you, I did not
expect much.

I'm sosorry MD, I
tried as muchas I could.

4Does thismean my lastalgorithm andexperiment on
the projectworked?

When women step into the sphere of innovation, theunique way they are wired help to inspire innovations
that shape a brighter and better future!

It is with excitementthat we bring you the news of
Ijeoma Okafor, the amazing
fifteen-year-old Nigerian girl
who won the world's biggest
art competition, the Leonardo
Da Vinci Art Competition withher stellar oil on canvas she
titled “Owambe.”

Yes it did,Ms Okafor. Your
unique approach tothis must have workedwonders.
Congratulations andwell done!

Her exceptional
work has sparked off
a global discussion on
why more women needto venture intocreativity.
back in Nsukka, Enugu...

Gissss,my baby girlwon!!!!

5Am I
dreamingor have I woken
up? I won!!!!
Daddy
come andsee, Iwon!!!

END.

Women in all regions of the world are shaping the world throughtheir imagination, ingenuity and hard work, but often face significant
challenges in accessing the knowledge, skills, resources andsupport they need to thrive.
Women are driving scientific breakthroughs, setting new creativetrends, building businesses and transforming our world.
Women bring new perspectives and talents to the table But, theproblem is, too few women are participating in the intellectualproperty (IP) system. That means too few women are benefittingfrom IP. We all gain from actively encouraging women to use theIP system.
When women therefore lose out, we all lose out.
We need to encourage more women to use the IP system to protect
and add value to their work. That way, we can develop more andbetter technologies that work for everyone, establish morethriving woman-led businesses, support economic recovery andbuild back better.
When innovation, creativity and business are inclusive and embrace
new ideas and perspectives, we all benefit.
Let's work towards gender parity in IP and unleash the ingenuity
and creativity of women and girls everywhere.Together, we canbuild a better tomorrow.