Albert Academy - Freetown Sierra Leone

The Albert Academy was founded on October 4, 1904, by the United Brethren Church (UBC) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The school was named in honor of Rev. Ira Albert, an American missionary who tragically drowned in the Bumpeh River. The initial funding for the school came from a donation of $8,000 in his memory.

​

Rev. Ira Albert was an American missionary associated with the United Brethren Church. He dedicated his life to missionary work in Sierra Leone, where he played a significant role in the establishment of the Albert Academy. Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he tragically drowned in the Bumpeh River. The school was named in his honor to commemorate his contributions and dedication to education and missionary work in the region.

​

The academy began in a single-family residential home on East Street, Freetown, with just five students, one teacher, a principal, and a janitor. Over the years, it has grown significantly and is now located on a five-acre campus at Berry Street, on the foothills of Mount Aureol. Today, the school educates over 2,600 students and is staffed by 96 teachers and 12 supporting staff.

​

The Albert Academy has a rich history of contributing to nation-building through education. It has produced many notable alumni, including Sir Milton Augustus Margai, Sierra Leone’s first Chief Minister and Prime Minister, and Dr. Siaka Probyn Stevens, who served as Prime Minister and President of Sierra Leone.

The school’s motto, “Esse Quam Videri” (To be, rather than to seem), reflects its commitment to fostering genuine character and integrity in its students.