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

Barewa College

Barewa College is a college in Zaria, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria. Founded in 1922 by British Governor General Hugh Clifford, it was originally known as "Katsina College." It switched its name to "Kaduna College" in 1938 and then "Government College, Zaria" in 1949 before settling on "Barewa...

, Zaria which he completed in 1962.

On 28 August 1963, he was flown along with 83 other Nigerians, to Uetersen

Uetersen

Uetersen ) is a city in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated approx. south of Elmshorn, and northwest of Hamburg at the small river Pinnau, close to the Elbe river...

, 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

Nigerian Air Force

The Nigerian Air Force is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces.It is one of the largest in West Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft including 15 Chengdu F-7s, and 24 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, armed helicopters, and military transport aircraft. However in recent years...

 as an officer with the rank of Second Lieutenant. At the outbreak of the Civil War

Nigerian Civil War

The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...

, he commanded the NAF Detachment in Benin

Benin

Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...

.

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

Kaduna State

-History:The state is the successor to the old Northern Region of Nigeria, which had its capital at Kaduna. In 1967 this was split up into six states, one of which was the North-Central State, whose name was changed to Kaduna State in 1976. This was further divided in 1987, losing the area now part...

, 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

Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...

’s regime on 1 January 1984. He was retained as Chief of Air Staff during General Ibrahim Babangida

Ibrahim Babangida

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...

’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.