Named for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria, and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall is the oldest building on the campus of Lincoln University and the site of the first degree-granting institution in the world to educate former slaves. The building was in continuous use for nearly a century and a half until being closed recently.

The Hall’s preservation is important not only to the Lincoln University community, but also to the broader American story of how 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) created greater opportunity for formerly enslaved workers and generations of African-American students. Now this unique building is threatened with demolition to make way for a new welcome center.

The National Trust is advocating for Lincoln University to hire a qualified preservation architect to assess the building, prepare a Historic Structure Report, and make recommendations about its future preservation. The preservation and active use of Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall is critical for connecting this important chapter of American history to the public and Lincoln University students and alumni who have impacted the fields of politics, economics, sciences, and more in America and around the world.