British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has paid tribute to Dr Alfa Sa’adu who died on Tuesday of complications from the coronavirus in the UK.
Until his demise, Sa’adu worked at Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.
Ms Laing said in a tweet that the UK honours his “total dedication and professionalism”.
“This is so sad. Dr Alfa Saadu who worked for the #NHS for 40 years and came out of retirement to help save lives against #COVIDー19 has died. We honour his total dedication and professionalism. Sincere condolences to his family and friends,” said Laing.
Sa’adu is the first known reported Nigerian to die of the virus in the UK.
The deceased graduated from University College Hospital Medical School, London in 1976 and got his MRCP exam as an SHO at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London in 1979. He has been a Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine since 1994.
Sa’adu started at Ealing Hospital NHS Trust on February 1, 2011, as medical director and deputy chief executive and served until September 30, 2014.
On October 1, 2014, he was appointed as the Interim Medical Director/ Responsible Officer/Caldicott Guardian of the new merged Integrated Care Organisation known as the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust.
He accepted voluntary redundancy from the Trust on July 31, 2015.
