By: Dell Jackson
Emmanuel Durojaiye’s Journey From Freshman Explorer to Sports Media Trailblazer
When Emmanuel Durojaiye stepped onto Morgan State University’s campus as a freshman, he had one goal: excel in engineering. But in his search to adjust to college life and explore something new, he stumbled upon a passion that would redefine his journey. Today, he’s a proud Morgan alumnus with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Like many other newly minted Morgan grads, Durojaiye had a path far from the norm — and his future is shaping to be no different.
Durojaiye pursued academics with discipline and rigor while also discovering a talent for sports photography and content creation. With a keen eye, and fueled by a relentless work ethic, he soon became a seminal figure transforming Morgan’s athletics coverage while earning national recognition.
From starting MSU Creatives, Morgan’s first-ever student-led content creator suite, to covering Major League Baseball’s HBCU Swingman Classic for Getty Images and participating in the Super Bowl LIX HBCU Experienceship, ’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity, initiative and the courage to step into the unknown.
“I came to Morgan with the only goal of going to the engineering building, studying and sticking to that path,” recalls. “But the beautiful thing about coming here is that there are so many opportunities just waiting to be tapped into.”
We’re a team of 30 creatives now. And what started as borrowing cameras has turned into something sustainable that will outlive my time at Morgan.
— Emmanuel Durojaiye,
Electrical Engineering Graduate, Class of 2025
Leap of Faith
His first encounter with sports media was purely incidental. While walking through Hill Field House, he noticed the sports marketing team recruiting students for game-day operations. Initially, the roles advertised were for fan engagement and logistics, but had something else in mind. “I had a creative passion for drawing and art that had fizzled out, and I was looking for something new to channel that into.”
That inquiry led him to Randolph (“Randy”) Brent, Morgan’s sole sports photographer at the time and now MEAC’s director of digital media. Brent, himself a 2020 engineering major, saw promise in Durojaiye.
“Together the core group of us started what is now universally acclaimed as MSU Creatives. That’s when I knew Eman (Durojaiye’s adopted nickname) was on a path of leadership,” Brent recalls.
Taking a leap of faith, Brent handed Durojaiye his old Canon T7 camera and encouraging him to experiment.
“He told me, ‘I know you don’t know too much, but here’s one of my old cameras. Run around, figure it out, and we’ll see where it goes,’” Durojaiye recalls.
Brent adds, “Eman was always there to help when needed and took what we did (as) just as important (as his) full-time job. He showed determination, professionalism and just the utmost respect for his craft. He knew that whatever he put his name on, he wanted it to (reflect) his high energy and character.”
That single act of mentorship sparked a journey that would take Durojaiye from being a curious novice tinkering with photography to leading an entire team of creatives dedicated to elevating Morgan State’s athletic storytelling.
At first, it was just Durojaiye, his best friend and roommate Sebastian Taylor and a few other students informally covering Morgan athletics. But as their skills grew, so did their ambition. They saw a gap in the University’s sports coverage and stepped up to fill it.
What began as a three-person operation became MSU Creatives, a structured, student-led team delivering photography, videography, social media and logistics services while providing hands-on experience to student creators.
“We’re a team of 30 creatives now,” Durojaiye says. “And what started as borrowing cameras has turned into something sustainable that will outlive my time at Morgan.”
High Recognition
Kenedi Canteen, a 2023 graduate and current MBA student who serves as Morgan Athletics’ director of marketing and fan engagement, witnessed the evolution.
“As the team evolved, (the) department recognized…each contributor and exposed them to various opportunities (from) traveling internationally or covering conference championships,” she says. “It is without a doubt that he leaves a memorable impression on the team. As he transitioned into a ‘director role,’ he had the opportunity to mentor younger members on the team (who) will continue to build.”
Durojaiye’s leadership earned him the 2025 President’s Second Mile Award for outstanding participation in student affairs. It was the perfect capstone to a college experience defined by impact, not titles.
It was this approach and its result that earned Durojaiye’s work the attention of industry giants. Through the HBCU Photographer Mentorship Program, Getty Images selected Durojaiye to cover the 2024 HBCU Swingman Classic, held during the All-Star Game. With high-end gear in tow and full access, he documented the action with the same passion he brought to Morgan.
That opportunity opened even more doors. He was named an AT&T Rising Future Maker, an honor awarded to just 25 HBCU students nationwide.
“I’m grateful to be part of something that uplifts HBCU students and gives us access to professional development and resources that set us up for success,” he says.
Perhaps the most prestigious recognition came when he was selected for the Super Bowl LIX HBCU Experienceship, an exclusive program that immerses students in the behind-the-scenes operations of the biggest sporting event in the country. Durojaiye’s selection stemmed from a prior project with NBCUniversal News Group’s NBCU Academy at an NFL game, where his visual storytelling caught the attention of key decision-makers.
“Sandy Sharp, our program manager, saw potential in me and decided to invest in me,” Durojaiye explains. “She said, ‘There are a lot of people who say they’re ready, and then there are those who show themselves to be ready.’ That stuck with me.”
“Morgan State University is an NBCU Academy academic partner school,” explains Sharp, the senior director of partnerships and initiatives for NBC News Group and its NBCU Academy effort. “We invited Emmanuel to join our NFL Experienceship at the Super Bowl because of his work ethic, professionalism and natural instinct as a creative.”
“Our goal is to engage students at our partner schools to offer opportunities to learn, grow and connect with professionals and resources in the media and tech industries,” continues Sharp. “We had a need for a student multimedia journalist to oversee the social media and coverage of community service events, and based on his previous work, I knew Emmanuel would own and execute his assignment.”
We had a need for a student multimedia journalist to oversee the social media and coverage of community service events, and based on his previous work, I knew Emmanuel would own and execute his assignment.
— Sandy Sharp,
NBC News Group, NBCU Academy, Senior Director of Partnerships and Initiatives
Tools for Success
Despite his meteoric rise in sports media, Durojaiye never lost touch with his engineering foundation. In fact, he credits it as essential, a perfect complement to photography.
“A skill that’s been very transferable from engineering to the creative side is the ability to analyze and process systems,” he says. “If you think about photography like a system, you have inputs, a process and an output. The camera is the system, I’m the user inputting settings and making creative decisions, and the output is the images that tell a story.”
This analytical approach also helped him thrive in case study competitions, designing campus engagement strategies for the University of California, Davis, or creating visual campaigns for Under Armour. His mix of creativity and structured problem-solving set him apart from many peers.
Now enrolled at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, Durojaiye is pursuing a Master of Management (MM) degree. Even in grad school, his desire to give back hasn’t waned. Durojaiye’s leadership skills are being put to the test in the Apple Maker Academy Program, working with Sacramento Valley rising high school students interested in technology and engineering.
As he reflects on his years at Morgan, Durojaiye has simple advice for future students.
“Get involved. Say yes. Try new things, whether you think you’re good at them or not,” he says. “I had no experience with a camera, and now I can confidently say I’m a sports photographer for Getty Images. That wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t take that first step.”
Beyond just personal growth, he emphasizes the importance of legacy building: “MSU Creatives is bigger than me now. It’s about creating opportunities for others, the way opportunities were created for me.”
With an engineering degree and a thriving creative career, Durojaiye enters the world with a unique edge.
“I (graduated) with two skill sets that will elevate me in any direction I choose,” he says. “I don’t know exactly where life will take me next, but I know that whatever it is, I have the tools to succeed.”
From curious freshman to nationally recognized sports photographer and MM candidate, Emmanuel Durojaiye is proof that taking a chance can open doors you never imagined. And for the next generation of Morgan students, he’s left more than a legacy; he’s left a blueprint: a blueprint for success.
