CHIEF (MRS.) DAMARIS TUMBUTU AGBOGUN (JP) HONOURED With PROFILE MOTHER 2020
The Anglican Communion of the Diocese of Lokoja at its 2020 Conference of the Mothers’ Union and Women’s Guild conferred on Mama, Chief Damaris Tumbutu Agbogun (JP) with one of the highest and prestigious awards of the church – Profile Mother for 2020. The investiture was carried out on the 6th December, 2020. At a well attended church service at St. Peter Anglican Church Felele, Lokoja, Kogi State,
Mama Agbogun was decorated by the Archbishop of Lokoja Province, The Most Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel A. S. Egbunu, his wife, Mrs. Abiodun Abosede Egbunu and assisted by other senior church ministers including Ven. George I. Jimoh (JP) the host minister.
This award is not accidental but rather merited due to her past and present contributions to the development of the church, womenfolk and humanity in general.
Many people have continuously been asking what and what makes Mama special and unique. The answers are not far- fetched.
Chief Mrs Damaris Tumbutu Agbogun (JP) is a household name and a well-known personality in Kogi State and even beyond. An agile and pragmatic individual, who has the big heart to weather storms and at the end of it all, she comes up more successfully. She is a prolific and prudent manager of resources, who enjoys creating wealth for others.
There are many things you cannot take away from Mama. She is a woman full of positive ideas and visions. She is honest and full of virtues. She is caring and compassionate. She is eloquent and unbendable in principle. She is generous to a fault.
She is someone who loves to inspire others to achieve greatness in life.
Mama is a multi- talented, distinguished Nigerian, a dedicated professional nurse and entrepreneur with her modest calling in helping people.
Mama Agbogun is always full of ideas –positive ideas which have been the most important driving force for her in the nursing profession. She is an unstoppable achiever who is always willing to turn-around the misfortunes of the people around her.
She is also a community and a religious leader who has put her life on the line to assist people that need her assistance.
Mama Agbogun has borne out the truth in the aphorism that a golden fish has no hiding place. Her name stands for so many positive things.
She is an embodiment of all the qualities found in a woman, she has strength of character and possesses a tremendous self-control. Her style and personality have been defined by her background and upbringing. She has street credibility having grown up in various less than affluent area.
Mama is a God-fearing woman, who relies on her Creator-God. She seeks the intervention of God before embarking on any project or assignment. This is a top secret of her life. She believes that, it is only God that has final say in man’s daily affairs.
Her financial contributions to her community and religious groups are difficult to quantify. Many students, elderly ones and widows have benefitted greatly from her.
Who is Chief (Mrs.) Damaris Tumbutu Agbogun?
Chief Mrs. Damaris Tumbutu Agbogun (JP) was born on the 21st January, 1942, to the family of Pa. Joseph and Mrs. Rachael Ikubanje (both of blessed memory) from Atteshi, a village near Agbaja in Oworo District, Lokoja Local Government Area, Kogi State. Her father was born into a Christian home of Pa. Evangelist Daniel Ikubanje and Late Mrs. Wonify Ikubanje (Nee Bako)
She started her elementary school at Holy Trinity School., Lokoja between the year 1952 to 1958, attended School of Midwifery, Lokoja in the year 1965, but due to the Nigerian Civil War that broke out in 1967, the school was closed down and their set was transferred to School of Nursing &/Midwifery General Hospital, Jos to complete their course, she finished Midwifery course Grade II in September 1968 and proceeded to Community Nursing School between 1970 to 1972 at Tudun Wada Community Nursing School, Kaduna. She then proceeded to School of Nursing, Maiduguri, Borno State between 1980-1982 where she graduated as a trained nurse.
Mama got married to Mr. Cornelius Ibitoye Agbogun (late) on February 20th 1959. The marriage was blessed with many children, grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Mama worked at General Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, General Hospital Gombe, Gombe State and General Hospital Potiskum, Yobe State.
In the year 1985, she was posted to District Health Unit, Lokoja Child Welfare Clinic, Lokoja (1985 to 1988) as the Officer in charge of District Health Unit in 1990 and later deployed to Hospital Management Board, General Hospital, Lokoja in 1991 and retired from service on the 3rd September, 1993, as a chief nursing officer. After retirement she joined National Council of Women Society. She also registered an association called Lokoja Goodwill Widow’s Association. Mama became the president of National Council of Women Society, Lokoja Local Government Area, Kogi State from 1998 to 2010.
As a nurse, Mama has a personal passion to help the poor and needy especially the widow. She is currently the Iyalode of Emmanuel Anglican Church, Lokoja from 25th February 2007, also the Gbejoga Obinrin of All Saints Anglican Church, Agbaja from 25th May, 2014, she was awarded by Emmanuel Anglican Church, Lokoja for her contributions towards the development of the church as an active chief, and member of the Church on 5th March 2016. Mama is also an Ambassador for
Peace conferred on her by Interreligious and International Federation World Peace. With the above analysis about this great woman of substance, mama truly deserves the people’s accolades. Her investiture as the Profile Mother 2020 is a honour she
deserves.Congratulations to a great Amazon of our time.
By: Felix Udebu
The Publisher Reflection Magazine.