Courtesy of Clark Atlanta University
The Presidents of the University of Lomé and Clark Atlanta University signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Lomé, Togo today, in a partnership facilitated by the World Bank Group. The partnership will create opportunities for students and faculty to collaborate on research and promote more inclusive and sustainable social and economic development.
This follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2022 between the World Bank and six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States.
“Education is the bedrock of development. Africa’s economic transformation hinges on its human capital and the skills of its workforce,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass. “Recognizing the great interest by HBCUs in research exchanges and collaboration with strong African education institutions, bringing these institutions together has been a priority. I look forward to the World Bank Group’s continued role as a convening entity to help forge partnerships among educational institutions,” he said.
Two historic institutions consolidated to form Clark Atlanta University. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation’s first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Clark Atlanta University is the largest United Negro College Fund (UNCF) member institution and has more than 4,000 students. UNCF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial support to minority students seeking higher education.
“The HBCU community commends the World Bank Group and President Malpass for facilitating this pivotal partnership, keen on making transformational impact,” said Dr. George T. French, Jr., President of Clark Atlanta University and Chairman of UNCF Member Presidents. “The cutting-edge research of Clark Atlanta and Lome universities will be further amplified through this transnational collaboration and represents an inflection point within higher education with creative modalities of engagement in the mission to eradicate extreme poverty.”
