(BALTIMORE – July 4, 2025)— In a landmark move signaling the start of a new cooperative initiative, Morgan State University and the SEA Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by internationally acclaimed soccer icon and humanitarian Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor, have committed to strategic collaboration focused on advancing experiential learning, entrepreneurship, and leadership development with a strong emphasis on social impact. Formalized during a public event held on Morgan’s campus, Friday, June 27, 2025, the two institutions officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The MOU signing ceremony culminated months of planning and dialogue between Morgan leadership and representatives of the SEA Foundation. It marks the beginning of a bold, multifaceted collaboration that will pursue a wide range of academic exchange opportunities focusing on cooperative global-minded learning models, entrepreneurship and reinvestment, civic and community engagement, and leadership advancement.
“This alliance with the SEA Foundation represents a milestone in fulfilling Morgan’s vision to shape the global future through education,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan. “Together, we are establishing a bridge that connects the rich intellectual and cultural strengths of Togo with the academic excellence and innovation of Morgan. Thanks to the vision of Mr. Adebayor and his foundation, our collaboration will empower the next generation of global leaders from both nations while serving as a model for international engagement between HBCUs and the African continent.”
The SEA Foundation, headquartered in Lomé, Togo, is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities through education, population health, cultural engagement, and youth entrepreneurship. Founded and led by Adebayor—one of Africa’s most recognized athletes and humanitarians—the Foundation has prioritized initiatives that enhance educational access, promote health awareness, and provide young people with the tools to drive economic and social progress.
The two-day visit to Baltimore included a special public dialogue, “Impact Through Education: An Exploration of How Education Is Shaping Africa’s Future,” featuring President Wilson and Mr. Adebayor. The session offered insights into how educational institutions and philanthropic partners can collaborate to spark transformation across nations and continents.
“I believe deeply in the power of education to unlock opportunity and shape destiny,” said Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor, founder and president of the SEA Foundation. “Through this partnership with Morgan State University, we are creating access, building capacity, and inspiring the youth of Africa to dream bigger, expand their global purview, and plant seeds for reinvestment back home in Africa. This is a legacy effort that will touch lives and lift communities. We are proud to call Morgan our partner in this journey.”
Still in development, the strategic pillars of Morgan’s collaboration with the SEA Foundation will comprise several key initiatives designed to enhance global academic exchange and fuel grassroots innovation in Africa and here in the U.S. at Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University. Among the proposed opportunities for exchange and advancement include:
- The Scholars and Fellows Program
This flagship initiative will bring selected students and faculty from Africa to study and teach at Morgan. In addition to academic exchange, the program may include the potential to establish endowed professorships and research fellowships to deepen institutional collaboration and expand cross-cultural engagement. - Entrepreneurship and Innovation Framework
Morgan and SEA Foundation will explore the feasibility of launching a business incubator in Togo based on Morgan’s very successful Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center (EDAC) framework. Utilizing the EDAC model, a proposed Togolese-based incubator will support early-stage entrepreneurs, offer seed funding, and provide training for community-based innovation. Remote learning and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) opportunities will extend the reach of these programs to students unable to travel abroad. - Global Leadership Development
Morgan will prospect opportunities to establish a leadership development center in Togo that could offer training in political science, business, public policy, and urban planning. - The Adebayor Lecture Series
This projected series will invite global leaders in philanthropy, entrepreneurship, education, and sports to engage with students and faculty in the U.S. and Togo. Potentially launching with Mr. Adebayor’s address at Morgan, the series will aim to promote thought leadership, inspire a culture of social responsibility and civic engagement, and encourage community reinvestment. - Establishment of a Permanent Morgan Presence in Togo
A key component of the MOU is a shared vision and commitment to exploring the possible creation of a Morgan State University hub in Togo, co-located with the African University of Sciences, Technologies and Trade (UASTM). This physical site would house academic programs, research initiatives, and training centers, solidifying Morgan’s commitment to sustained transatlantic engagement.
The tenets of this strategic collaboration will serve as a blueprint for other possible partnerships across Africa. Morgan intends to engage stakeholders such as the U.S. Embassy in Togo, the University of Lomé, and international development agencies like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to scale the partnership’s reach and effectiveness.
This newly formed alliance aligns with Morgan State University’s strategic goal of expanding its international footprint while advancing global equity and collaboration, as detailed in the University’s 10-year strategic plan, “Transformation Morgan 2030: Leading the Future.” As the third-largest HBCU in the United States, Morgan continues to position itself as a global leader in education, committed to bridging the African diaspora and creating shared opportunities for exchange, reversing the tides of brain drain.
About SEA Foundation
The SEA Foundation, based in the West African nation of Togo, is a charitable organization dedicated to driving impactful change across education, population health, and youth entrepreneurship in Togo and throughout Africa. With a mission to empower communities through knowledge and opportunity, the Foundation champions initiatives that promote health awareness, enhance educational access and training, and support youth-led entrepreneurial ventures. Through its commitment to these core areas, along with fostering cultural development among young people, the SEA Foundation strives to be recognized as a leading force in equipping populations with the tools and knowledge essential for the sustainable development of Togo.
About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
