Meet John Jukuma: The One-Armed Iron Bender Who Overcame Tragedy to Build His Future

In life, some stories stand out for their sheer resilience and determination. Recently, EKO HOT BLOG, meet one such individual who has defied all odds to achieve greatness in a field that requires both skill and physical strength.

Mr. John Jukuma, a native of Nasarawa State, found his passion for iron bending after a life-changing accident left him with only one hand.

Rather than succumbing to adversity, he chose to rise above it, becoming not only a skilled tradesman but also a source of inspiration to others facing similar challenges.

His story is one of triumph over adversity, a true testament to the power of the human spirit.

Could you introduce yourself to our audience?

Thank you for having me. My name is Oga Jukuma John, and I’m from Nasarawa State.

How did you get into iron bending?

Well, growing up, I had big dreams of furthering my education. But the reality of my background—my family’s limited resources—made it impossible to afford school. So, I turned to a trade, and after trying a few things, I found myself drawn to iron bending. It turned out to be a perfect fit for me. Iron bending is a lucrative trade because, in Nigeria, construction is always ongoing, and builders constantly need skilled iron benders.

But, did you always have this condition, or was it something that happened later in life?

I wasn’t born with this condition. I had both hands up until January 14, 2016. That’s when I had an accident.

Can you tell us more about that accident? What happened?

Sure. I was working at my shop when one of my clients called me to come to the site for an estimate.

I told my workers to take a break while I went to the site. I hopped on my bike, but as I was trying to start it, the engine kept stalling. Finally, I got it started, but as I was driving, I crashed into a parked car. The impact caused the bike to fail, and I ended up getting seriously injured. When I looked around, people were gathered, and I realised something was wrong. I was in a lot of pain, but I remained calm, praising God in my heart even though I was injured.

It sounds like a really traumatic experience. So, when you got to the hospital, what was the verdict?

I was rushed to the general hospital in Askoro, Abuja where I spent over three weeks. The doctors suggested amputating my hand, but my mother refused. Eventually, I was referred to a hospital in another state. After months of treatment, the doctors had no choice but to amputate my hand to save my life.

How did you handle the recovery process, especially after the amputation?

After the amputation, I didn’t allow myself to fall into despair. Even while in the hospital, I interacted with people and stayed positive. I praised God for keeping me alive. When I returned home, I began training people and even went back to the job site to see how the work was being done. I decided I would give it a try myself, and when I bent my first steel perfectly, I knew I could continue my work. I gave thanks to God and began bending iron again.

Now that you’re back in the field, how do you find the work? Are there any challenges working with one hand?

Surprisingly, I feel I’m doing even better than I did with two hands. When I had both hands, I was only able to handle small projects. But now, I’ve built a one-bedroom flat for my family with the money I earn from this trade. This job has allowed me to provide a roof over my family’s head.

You’ve made a lot of progress. But what about others in similar situations? You see many people with disabilities on the streets begging for help. What advice do you have for them?

My advice is simple: Never use your circumstances as an excuse to give up on life. You have to let go of shame and keep pushing forward. Whatever you can do, do it with all your strength. Even if you find yourself in difficult circumstances, like I did, don’t give up. Keep striving, and God will guide you to success.

Is there anything you feel you need to make your work easier or help you improve your craft?

Yes, I’m working towards getting a cutting machine for the iron. It would make the work faster and more efficient. The machine I need costs around 90,000 Naira, but there’s also a bigger one that costs about 370,000 Naira. That would help a lot in speeding up the work.

Mr. John Chukuma’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the determination to overcome adversity. His journey, from tragedy to triumph, serves as an inspiration to many, proving that no matter the challenges, perseverance and faith can lead to success.

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