THAHAL, Capt Paul Mamman

Captain Paul Mamman Thahal OON, the Magajin Garin Garkida was born on September 18, 1939 to Evangelist Pa Mamman Thahal and Evangelist Mama Mwala Yahuniya at Garkida in Buraland, current day Adamawa State Nigeria.He lived the first 7 – 8 years of his life in Garkida, where he started his primary education at Garkida Church of the Brethren Mission (CBM) School. On the invitation of Dr. Albert D. Helser of Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) his mother took him and his siblings to Kano due to the unfortunate demise of his father.After the move to Kano, at a tender age and under instructions from his mother, Captain Paul Thahal assumed the fatherly responsibility of his sibling being the eldest son in the family.He worked after school to earn a living and assist in paying his siblings school fees.Captain was very interested in Church activities and so joined the Boy’s Brigade and learnt to play the piano too.While in the Boy’s brigade, he rose to the rank of Captain spurring his interest in joining the Police Force at the time, but that was overtaken by the opportunity to fly a plane. Early Education Captain Thahal started his Primary education at CBM School in Garkida and completed it at SIM primary school Kano in 1950.He enrolled in a one-year removal program after primary iv, this prepared him for his senior primary education from 1951 to 1953 at Roni an SIM station near Kazaure as a boarding student.Captain’s sporting skills developed at Roni especially his love for soccer (football).Captain Thahal had the opportunity to choose between attending a government or mission school for his secondary education.During the entrance examination to Government College Barewa, Zaria he was singled out by a lady missionary being the smallest in the class as a good candidate for Sudan United Mission (SUM) Boys’ Secondary School (BSS) Gindiri and was granted automatic admission without having to sit for the entrance examination.He was at SUM BSS Gindiri for his secondary education from January 1954 to 1959 where he continued in the Boys’ Brigade, his love for sports and even joining the school soccer (football) team as the goalkeeper.After his Secondary education, he returned to Kano and taught at the SIM Primary School while awaiting his examination results. Pilot Training In 1960 Captain Thahal enrolled at the Nigerian College of Arts Science and Technology Zaria in preparation for University.On a journey to Kaduna from Zaria, he came across an advertisement for Air Pilot Training of which he applied with a few hundreds of other qualified Nigerians; a handful were successful and by the Grace of God he was shortlisted for an interview in Lagos. After the interview, seven of the hopefuls were chosen of which five remained after a series of examinations, Captain Paul Mamman Thahal was among those chosen.The five candidates from Nigerian Air Pilot Training at Kirikiri were then sent to Perth in Scotland United Kingdom in October/November 1960.Despite the other four candidates having their Higher School Certificate (HSC), and Captain Thahal with only Secondary school qualifications was the first to finish his Pilot training in 1962 and the others graduated the following year (1963).During his Pilot training, he obtained the following qualifications: Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Instrument Rating License (IRL) Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) British Pilot License (BPL) Becoming the first pilot from the Northern part of the country and one of the first four Nigerian pilots. Career Captain Thahal joined the Nigeria Airways in 1962 as a Flying Officer (FO) after completion of his Pilot Training, rising to Captain in less than five years which is unusual.His sequential ratings started from DC3, then F27, F28, B707 and finally DC10.During the course of his flying career, a lot of great Nigeria’s trusted his ability to fly and would regularly request his services to take them from one place to another.A very notable person was Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto who will specifically and fondly request for that Northern Boy to come and fly him; sometimes giving him a plane to fly around in order to add to his flying hours translating to experience.Besides Sardauna, Captain Thahal flew Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Rt. Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik). By virtue of his career, Captain Thahal had to deal with political leaders, both military and civilian.Coups and counter-coups were staged around him, but he was not a politician nor a soldier but a humble Air pilot always neutral.A very important relationship was that with General Yakubu Gowon of which they cannot recollect the first time they actually met.However, in 1967 General Gowon the Nigerian Head of State at the time requested Captain Thahal to be his Personal Pilot.He worked very closely with General Gowon from 1967 to 1975, having similar missionary upbringing this developed into a very close brotherly relationship.Both Captain Thahal and General Gowon are involved in a program called Nigeria Prays where they are Vice-Chairman and Chairman respectively, their bond is the love of Jesus Christ. Captain Thahal was not only a pilot to the Nigerian People and Leaders, but a successful administrator in Nigeria Airways rising through the ranks to become the first Nigerian Managing Director (MD) in 1976, the highest administrative rank a career pilot could attain.During his tenure as MD, he worked judiciously to transform the airline which became comparable to other reputable airlines in Africa.The aircraft fleet was increased tremendously and even staff welfare was paramount with the development of housing estates for Nigeria Airways’ staff.He became MD with 26 pilots and left the position with over 300 pilots and a fleet of 76 F27 planes; 32 DC planes; F28planes; B737, 727, 707,747 planes; DC 10 and Airbus 330 planes.He was able to achieve the best safety record in Africa during his tenure and other laudable achievements.Captain Thahal was Nigeria’s Representative at the international Federation of Airline Pilots Association (IFAPA), rising to the rank of Africa Regional Vice President.At retirement from Nigeria Airways and the civil service in 1999, Captain Thahal had clocked about 15,000 hours of flight translating to 1year 8months 20 days flying nonstop. Even after retirement, Captain Thahal was called upon to head the DC 10 Fleet Acquisition Committee, because of his transparency, forthrightness and dedication to the aviation sectoral development. Christian Life & Commitment to the Church Captain Thahal is a committed and dedicated Christian.He easily became an elder in every church where he was a member, holding various leadership positions in the following churches: Army Cantonment Church, Ikeja – Elder Nigeria Airforce Base, Ikeja – Chairman Board of Elders Ekkelsiya Yan’uwa A Nigeria (EYN) Lagos – Church Advisor Nigeria Prays – Vice President Boys’ Brigade – Life Member Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship International, Abuja Chapter – Member International Christian Chambers of Commerce – Member Marriage and Family Captain Thahal loved his sisters (Ruth, Ladi & Hanne) and brother (Yakubu) though the most important person in the world to him, was his wife Mrs. Asta P. Thahal once known as Miss Asta Bata Shallangwa.The sweethearts got married on June 6, 1965.The greatest need and challenge for both Captain & Mrs. Thahal was the blessing of a child.They were blessed after 16 years with a daughter Dr. Hyeladzira Thahal on June 5, 1981 who is the most important person to both of them.Captain Thahal has always attached utmost importance to family with no partiality or distinction between his and his wife’s.His home has always been a warm place and a home to all, family, friends and even strangers. Captain Thahal was a very busy man in retirement of over 20 years today.His contributions to the business world and society are immense.His involvement in Christian ministries reflect his life commitment to the cause of Jesus Christ.His friends and business associates are of all religious faiths and walks of life.He never discriminated anyone based on colour, faith, ethnicity or creed.