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Africa

Bringing hope and transformation to the Democratic Republic of Congo

MIT graduate student Milain Fayulu is on a mission. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Fayulu is telling, and selling, the story of his nation in the hope of aiding its people and transforming its economy. For decades, the DRC has been hobbled by corruption and bloody civil conflicts. “I grew up with […]

Expanding energy access in rural Lesotho

Matt Orosz’s mission for the last 20 years can be explained with a single picture: a satellite image of the world at night, with major cities blazing with light and large swaths of land shrouded in darkness. The image reminds Orosz SM ’03, SM ’06, PhD ’12 of what he’s trying to change. Orosz is […]

MIT launches the Africa Distinguished Visitors Program

The program’s inaugural honoree, Professor Mohamed H. A. Hassan, President of the World Academy of Sciences, recently visited MIT March 16-18, 2022.  On March 17, the MIT community welcomed the renowned physicist, scholar, and academic leader Professor Mohamed H.A. Hassan, as the first honoree of the MIT Africa Distinguished Visitors Program. During his visit, Hassan […]

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, […]