The work done at the Institute is a continuation of Menkiti’s legacy and dream for a better global society. Menkiti set in motion the process to launch the Emengini Institute for Comparative Global Studies before his death. The Institute is a center for research aiming to address global problems from perspectives that take seriously the contributions of Africa and other neglected voices. As an Institute that supports the dialogue of Africa and the world, Emengini Institute is a think tank engaged in the collaborative exploration of global humanities.

In the formation of knowledge systems, many cultures, especially African cultures, have been ignored. Therefore, by encouraging the dialogue of cultures, Emengini Institute provides a space for the rejuvenation of the humanities. Ifeanyi Menkiti, the founder of the Institute, aptly captured the spirit behind its work when he noted that the mission is “to help remediate the troubled state of the African humanities to make it be a conversation with global humanities recourse.” The Institute offers courses, conferences, seminars, and fellowship programs meant to encourage the collaborative exploration of effective strategies for global coexistence. The goal is to transcend the gap between theory and lived experience.