The West African Students' Union, founded in London in 1925 and active into the 1960s, was an association of students from various West African countries who were studying in the United Kingdom. , it had begun to campaign for improved welfare for all African students in London, and for assorted measures for progress in Britain's African colonies.
The organisation made opposition to the colour bar its first priority, while also including the promotion of political research, support for the NCBWA and the provision of a student hostel in its founding aims
The aim of founding a hostel was taken directly from USAD and the NPU. Many African students in Britain found that, due to racism, it was difficult to secure satisfactory lodgings. While the Colonial Office showed some interest in establishing such a hostel, WASU was keen to maintain control of the project, and in 1929, Solanke left for a fundraising journey through West Africa. Despite this, the Colonial Office assembled a secret committee to plan for a hostel under its control, and attempted to secure private funding for its construction.