News & Stories

Lawrence Udeigwe uses elegant math to understand complex systems of the brain

It’s a tale familiar to many first-generation students: Neither of Lawrence Udeigwe’s parents had more than a sixth-grade education, and yet they were willing to sacrifice everything to educate their children. “My dad,” Udeigwe says, “would tell us, ‘I’m ready to sell everything for you guys to go to school.’” Udeigwe recounts that in Nigeria […]

Designing the built environment through a service lens

Growing up in Rwanda, Carene Umubyeyi learned at a young age the importance of community, adaptability, and education. At the age of 8, she moved to Michigan for a few years while her parents earned their graduate degrees. During that time, she had to learn a new language and integrate into a new culture. As […]

Energizing communities in Africa

Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Ayomikun Ayodeji enjoyed the noisy hustle and bustle of his neighborhood. The cacophony included everything from vendors hawking water sachets and mini sausages, to commuters shouting for the next bus. Another common sound was the cry of “Up NEPA!” — an acronym for the Nigerian Electrical Power Authority — which […]

Expanding the conversation about sustainability

Stacy Godfreey-Igwe sat in her dorm room at MIT, staring frantically at her phone. An unprecedented snowstorm had hit her hometown of Richardson, Texas, and she was having difficulty contacting her family. She felt worried and frustrated, aware that nearby neighborhoods hadn’t lost power during the storm but that her family home had suffered significant […]

Legatum Center welcomes the inaugural Foundry Fellows

The Legatum Center for Development & Entrepreneurship at MIT recently introduced the inaugural cohort of Legatum Foundry Fellows. Hailing from eight countries, these 13 entrepreneurs have grown ventures operating in nine different markets across Africa. Having pioneered innovations in health care, fintech, education, and more, the Foundry Fellows are dedicated to transforming systems and improving […]

Academy in Ghana aims to develop world leaders

Carl Kwaku Dey MBA ’21 graduated this month with not only a degree from the MIT Executive MBA (EMBA) Program, but also with plans to open a school in Ghana serving children in kindergarten through eighth grade. He’ll do so with the support of nearly 40 of his EMBA classmates, who helped with fundraising, branding, […]

Shipping Background Delivers the Chance to Feed Millions

As a high school student at a boarding school in Ghana, Chris Nikoi SM ’91 would sit by the dining hall windows and watch as ships docked in the port of Takoradi. Saturdays meant outings at the Seamen’s Centre; movie night meant boarding a ship to see the latest flick. Many of his classmates went […]

To understand race in Africa today, look to the past, panelists say

Last year protests erupted in the U.S. and parts of South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, with the central message — Black Lives Matter. Ignited by the demonstrations for racial justice and police reform in the U.S., the protests around the world erupted in solidarity with the American cause, but took on the nuances of […]

Mobilizing the masses, one person at a time

Collective action can lead to fundamental change in societies, giving a voice to marginalized citizens and creating opportunities for greater political and economic equity. But for it to work, numbers matter. So Gabriel Nahmias is asking, “How do we get more people to engage in politics, and then how do we get those who are […]

Fellowship Opportunity: Legatum Foundry Fellowship

The Foundry Fellowship is an exciting new leadership development program for Africa-based founders who have scaled innovation-led companies. The Fellowship will bring together African leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to bringing about change through entrepreneurship and are ready to enter the next phase of their entrepreneurial journey. We are seeking 15 established entrepreneurs from Africa who have founded […]