Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson to receive honorary doctorate in Nigeria

Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson will travel to the University of Nigeria in Nsukka on July 25, 2026, to receive an honorary doctorate and present a posthumous degree to Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. The ceremony is being framed as a bridge between African American faith institutions and African universities.

Why it matters: - The ceremony links a major U.S. Black church leader and Virginia Union University to one of Africa’s most prominent universities. - The event underscores growing ties between Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States and African institutions. - The honorary degree recognizes 50 years of leadership, church-based community development, and civil rights work by Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson.

What happened: - Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson will travel to Nsukka, Nigeria, for the University of Nigeria’s convocation on Saturday, July 25, 2026. - The University of Nigeria will award Richardson an Honorary Doctorate of Social Work. - Richardson will also present a posthumous Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. - Richardson is acting in his role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Virginia Union University. - The University of Nigeria will ask Richardson to address the Class of 2026 during commencement.

The details: - Dr. Azikiwe was Nigeria’s first president and the founder of the University of Nigeria. - Azikiwe began his American academic journey in the 1920s at Storer College, which later merged with and became a foundational pillar of Virginia Union University. - The University of Nigeria is honoring Richardson for 50 years of transformative leadership as Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York. - Richardson has led community development efforts that include 800 units of affordable housing. - Richardson also serves as Chairman of the Conference of National Black Churches and Chairman of the Board of the National Action Network. - In those roles, Richardson has spent decades advancing civil rights, social justice, and corporate diversity. - The University of Nigeria was founded in 1960 as the nation’s first indigenous university. - The university says its mission is to restore dignity through excellence in scholarship, innovation, and service. - The commencement address will expand on themes from Richardson’s book, Never Lost: The Black Church as God's Ark of the Covenant. - The event centers on the idea that the Black Church is part of a global African story, not only an American one.

Between the lines: - The visit is meant to signal a broader cultural and academic reconnection between the African Diaspora and the African continent. - Richardson’s remarks are expected to frame the Black Church as a preserved link to African identity, leadership, resilience and culture. - The University of Nigeria is using the ceremony to highlight shared history between African institutions and U.S. HBCUs.

What’s next: - Richardson’s commencement address, titled “Returning Home: The Ark of Our Shared Heritage,” remains under strict embargo until delivery. - The full text will be available after the ceremony at the book website. - A live stream of the commencement ceremony will be available on YouTube.

The bottom line: - The University of Nigeria’s convocation will honor Richardson while also spotlighting a transatlantic link between Black faith leadership, higher education, and African heritage.