Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Dr Omowamiwa Kolawole is the 2022 - 2023 postdoctoral research fellow under the SARChI Research Chair in Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development, University of Cape Town. He has previously served as a Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Law and Society, as well as at the Democratic Governance Research Unit, in the Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town. He has also Clerked for Malawi’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Appeal. He received a PhD in Public Law as well as masters in law, both from the University of Cape Town. He also holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and is in the process of obtaining a masters in public health from the University of Cape Town. Omowamiwa’s research interests are in the intersections of law and public health and his work engages with the right to health and how its realisation influences intellectual property regulation of innovations in biomedical care and public health intervention.
Dr Talkmore Chidede was the 2021 Postdoctoral Research Fellow under the SARChI Research Chair in Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development in the Department of Commercial Law at University of Cape Town (UCT). He holds a Doctor of Laws (LLD) in International Investment Law from the University of the Western Cape and a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Investment Law from the University of Fort Hare. His research interests include international trade and investment law, intellectual property rights and African regional integration.
Dr Chijioke Okorie was the inaugural Postdoctoral Fellow under the SARChI Research Chair in Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development in the Department of Commercial Law at University of Cape Town (UCT) (2019 - 2020). She is also a Queen Elizabeth Scholar with the Open African Innovation Research (OpenAIR) Network. She obtained her PhD in Commercial Law (copyright and competition law in digital business models) from UCT and her LLM in Internet Law and Policy from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.Dr Okorie is the author of Multi-sided music platforms and the Law: Copyright, Law and Policy in Africa, published by Routledge in 2019. As of 2021, Dr Okorie is a Lecturer, in the Department of Private Law, University of Pretoria. Her full profile is available on: LinkedIn
Postdoctoral and Doctoral Researchers
Ghati Nyehita was the 2021 Doctoral Research Fellow under the DST/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development, Commercial Law Department, University of Cape Town. She is a doctoral candidate at UCT specializing in Intellectual Property Law. She is also an Open African Innovation Research (OpenAIR) Network Queen Elizabeth Scholar. Her research interests focus on aligning creativity with development in Africa.
In 2019 - 2020, Dr Desmond Oriakhogba was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Public Law Department; and a postdoctoral researcher under the DST/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development, Commercial Law Department, University of Cape Town. He is also a Queen Elizabeth Scholar with the Open African Innovation Research (OpenAIR) Network. He obtained his PhD in Commercial Law (specialising in intellectual property and competition law), from the University of Cape Town; and his LLM and LLB degrees from the University of Benin, Nigeria. Dr Oriakhogba is a qualified solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In 2022, Dr Oriakhogba was appointed Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mercantile and Private Law, University of Venda and as of 2023 he joined the University of the Western Cape.
Research Students and Research Assistants
The South African Research Chair: Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development currently has a large cohort of doctoral candidates and masters students undertaking IP research under Professor Ncube's supervision or co-supervision. Some members of the cohort blog in our 'news and views' section and we feature others in our annual newsletters. All of them get listed on our completed research supervisions when they are awarded their degrees.
LLM research assistants
In 2023 Ngonidzaishe Gotora joined the team as a research assistant in the second semester. He holds an LLB degree (University of Portsmouth) and a Master of International Economics and Finance (The University of Queensland, Australia). He has a keen interest in the intersection of Intellectual Property Law and Development on the African continent. His LLM thesis is entitled 'Assessing The Effectiveness of Patent Law in the SADC In Promoting Biotechnology Advancement and Access to Affordable Healthcare'.
In 2022, three LLM students in the IP program joined the chair as research assistants working on several ongoing projects. They are:
Laura Gehle : Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Law & Management at University of Bielefeld; Law University of Bielefeld with state exam.
Thabiso Phiri : LLB (University of Zimbabwe); former research assistant in the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Zimbabwe; Admitted attorney.
Joseph Mugauri : LLB (Cum Laude), UFH; Co- Founder: Ithemba-Tariro Foundation.
Joseph Thabiso
LLB student research assistantships
These students contribute to the work of the Chair on assigned research topics and tasks. The students receive informal training and mentoring through participation in non-curriculum research seminars and participation in workshop/conference planning, logistics and administration. There are also opportunities for the students under the Chair to publish and enhance their leadership, organisational and community engagement skills.
Bianca Bresler (2020)
Morite Makola (2020)
Angie Montandon (2020)
Sanelisiwe Mthalane (2020)
Muofhe Tshifularo (2020)
Somila Dondashe (2019)
Simamkele Gosa (2019)
Tumi Mohapi (2019)
Adelaide Lendor (2019)