Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa

Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa (Rtd)

Life and career

Born August 14, 1946, at Garkida, Adamawa State, he started his educational career at the Central Primary School, Jimeta, Yola in 1948 and went on to complete his primary and secondary school education in 1960 at Yola Middle School, later known as the Provincial Secondary School. Soon after his graduation, he enrolled for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) course in Barewa College, Zaria which he completed in 1962.

On 28 August 1963, he was flown along with 83 other Nigerians, to Uetersen, Germany for training. He was in Germany until 21 June 1966 when he was recalled home with the team and commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as an officer with the rank of Second Lieutenant. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he commanded the NAF Detachment in Benin.

He was appointed a member of the Supreme Military Council in 1975 as one of its younger members with the rank of Group Captain.

In July 1978, Alfa was appointed Military Governor of Kaduna State, a position he held until October 1979.

In 1981, Alfa was appointed the Air Officer Operations (AOO), with the rank of Air Commodore. Alfa was appointed the eighth Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force under General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime on 1 January 1984. He was retained as Chief of Air Staff during General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration and was a member of the defunct Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) as well as the Chairman of the National Transition Committee.

Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa was awarded the Defence Service Medal, National Service Medal, Republic Medal, General Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Star and the Distinguished Service Medals. In May 1999 he was awarded the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR). Air Marshal Ibrahim Alfa retired from military service in 1990. Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa died on 16 March 2000.^[1]

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