It was a very exciting start to our 2021/22 school year with the opening of our new fifth school House, Sa’adu House, named after ON Alfa Sa'adu.

The day was made even more special as we were joined by the wonderful Sa'adu family, who gave their blessing to name the new House after Alfa, who sadly lost his life to Covid in March 2020 following a very successful 40-year career in the NHS as a highly respected doctor. It was also lovely to be joined on the day by Alfa's close school friend and family friend, ON David Scott.

Alfa attended Adams from 1963 to 1970 as a boarder. He was the son of Nigeria’s minister of agriculture before the revolution of the early sixties and is remembered with great fondness by many of his old school friends as being someone who always had a smile on his face and who was immensely talented both academically and on the sports field.

After completing his education at Adams, Alfa went on to study medicine at University College London. He had a longstanding career in North West London as Medical Director at Ealing Hospital and later Deputy Medical Director at the London North West University NHS Trust. He was also a member of the North West London Clinical Board. Despite retiring in 2016, he remained determined to help and treat patients as much as possible by working part-time at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn, Hertfordshire. He sadly died on 31st March 2020 of coronavirus after a two week fight against the virus. 

Headmaster Gary Hickey explains: “Our school community was deeply saddened by the news of Alfa’s passing. When pupils and staff were invited to choose a name for the school’s new, fifth House, Sa’adu was a very clear contender right from the start and we were absolutely delighted when Alfa’s wife, Diane Sa’adu, gave us her blessing. Our school has stood for almost four-hundred years and I can’t think of a more fitting way to introduce a new House into 21st century Adams than by honouring one of our own who gave so much in the service of others.  Our pupils enjoy a strong House spirit and our House system is an integral and vital part of school life. Alfa is without doubt a very worthy role model for our young people.”

Mrs. Sa’adu was very moved by the visit, saying: “The visit has been a day of deep emotion but joy too. Alfa always spoke proudly and with such passion about his old school and we were truly overwhelmed and very proud when the school asked if they could name a new House in honour of him. To be able to see today the way the school holds Alfa in such high esteem has been a real honour. When they made Alfa, they broke the mould.  You met him once and you never forgot him. He was a giant amongst men.”

During the visit, Mrs. Sa’adu was also invited to open the school’s new teaching block, cutting ribbons that represented all five of the school Houses. The new facilities includes ten classrooms and a large hall.