By Blessing Bliss ChukwumaÂ
The remains of Late Apostle Jonathan Buguma Ikputu arrived his home town Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria on the 25th of November 2023 for his funeral service and interment.
Late Apostle JONATHAN BUGUMA IKPUTU who was called Mr Clean, Handsome and a Perfect Gentleman by his children and friends was born on the 6th of December, 1932 into the family of Late Kai Ikputu and Ayamazogo Ikputu (Née Bolou ) all in Odi in the present day Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Late J. B Ikputu started his primary Education at St. Stephen’s Primary School Odi. During his days in primary school he represented Odi in athletics and became the best sprinter in Kaiama. However, he did not complete his primary school education when his elder brother sent for him to join him in Sokoto. On getting to Sokoto in 1956, his elder brother enrolled him in a nursing school where he was trained a nurse and he started to work there in Sokoto and assumed all responsibilities as an adult.
As time went on, sometime in 1967 he was informed by one of his Hausa friends of a likely outbreak of war, and he immediately found his way out of Sokoto through Onitsha back to Yeneagoa, Bayelsa state.
During the civil war he and his younger brother stayed at a refugee camp and when it was discovered that he was a nurse he was immediately conscripted and officially employed in 1968 to join other nurses at the General Hospital in Yenegoa, in the old Rivers State.
Apostle Jonathan Buguma Ikputu traversed the length and breadth of Rivers State. He worked at the General Hospital Yenagoa from 1968 – 1970. Thereafter he was transferred to the General Hospital in Bori from 1970 – 1973 and then to the General Hospital in Degema where he worked from 1973 – 1976. From Degema he was transferred to Okrika General Hospital where he worked from 1976 – 1984. He was later transferred from Okrika in 1984 back to Bori General Hospital and remained there till 1990.
In 1990, he was transferred he was transferred to Brainwaitte Memorial Hospital now Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and he remained until the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996. Upon the creation of Bayelsa State, he left Rivers State for Bayelsa to pilot the affairs of the young state with his wealth of experience as a pioneer member at the General Hospital Yenagoa now known as the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) as a Chief Nursing Officer and held the position up until his retirement in 2000.
As part of his quest to improve on his profession, he studied at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital ( LUTH) in specialize in Operating Theatre Techniques in 1976 – 1977. He was in Switzerland in 1980 for a special conference on Nurses and Operating Theatre Techniques (NOTT).
In the year 1988 he presented a paper at the Port Harcourt Airport Hotel Titled : RECYCLING OF SYRINGES; PRINCIPLES AND CARE IF SYRINGES, NEEDLES SND INSTRUMENTS STERILIZATION, TYPE AND RATIONALE.
This presentation earned him a double promotion from the commissioner for health, Late Dr. Dienma Denni Fiberesima.
Late J. B. Ikputu also worked with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on contract basis in the medical department at Rumubiakani and Kidney Island respectively.
Late J. B. Ikputu was also employed by the Hospital Management Board also on a contract basis (LOCUM) were he brought his wealth of experience. He was firstly transferred to General Hospital Brass and then later transferred to General Hospital Odi. In Odi he championed the installation and drilling of water boreholes. He also reached out to individuals in Odi to ensure the purchase of a generating set and renovation of the operating theatre.
J. B. Ikputu worshiped at the Holy Ghost Believers Church at Abba Street Port Harcourt in 1992.in same church he was made an elder due to his commitment in God’s vineyard. The Late Apostle was ordained an acting teacher and then pastor to an evangelist and finally he was ordained an Apostle which is the highest hierarchy in the in the year 2006. Late Apostle J. B. Ikputu was also the head of conflict resolution and reconciliation in the church until his demise.
Late Apostle J. B. Ikputu was a good man, a lover of humanity. A gentleman per excellence. He rendered rendered free medical treatments to friends, brothers and some of those who came in contact with him. During is years in medical practice and service he has a special bed/section for those that were sick and needed medical attention from his community Odi.
After the destruction of Odi, lata apostle J. B. Ikputu was part of a subcommittee on health tha was set up for the rehabilitation of Odi. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the general hospital in Odi. He was a one time secretary of the Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives. He also was a member of the Nigerian Association of Patrnt and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) Bayelsa State Chapter.
Apostle Jonathan Buguma Ikputu until his demise was happily married to Mrs. Pentecost Ikputu and their union was blessed with fifteen (15) children, and they have two (2) foster children, twenty seven (27) grandchildren and five (5) great grandchildren.
In large numbers , his family, friends, former colleagues and associates, school mates, government officials, extended families and members of the public were in attendance and they commiserated with the family of their late brother.
Apostle Jonathan Buguma Ikputu’s funeral was conducted by the : HOLY GHOST BELIEVERS CHURCH, punch street, off imgbi road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
