Nigeria’s Christian community is mourning the passing of one of its most revered evangelists, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, who died on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80.
His family, in a statement on Monday, described his death as a “glorious transition” from a lifetime of service to eternal rest.
“He was a faithful soldier of the cross who devoted his life to spreading the gospel with passion and integrity,” the family wrote. “His teachings, prophetic insights, and mentorship have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire believers for years to come.”
Ukpai’s passing marks the end of an era in Nigerian evangelism — an era defined by fiery crusades, prophetic teaching, and an unwavering focus on faith and healing.
A Life of Impact and Legacy
For more than six decades, Rev. Ukpai’s ministry shaped lives across Nigeria and beyond. His evangelistic campaigns drew multitudes, often filling stadiums from Lagos to Accra.
Through radio broadcasts, faith conventions, and outreach missions, he preached a message of salvation, hope, and divine purpose.
He was regarded by many as one of the early pioneers of Pentecostal revival in Nigeria — a spiritual general whose influence spanned generations.
His messages, steeped in both simplicity and depth, emphasised faith, discipline, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
Beyond his public ministry, Ukpai was a family man — a devoted husband and father who mentored countless young ministers.
His humanitarian work extended to education, leadership development, and community empowerment through his foundation and faith-based initiatives.
In their statement, his family said they were comforted by the belief that “he has finished his race and is now resting in eternal praise.” Details of his burial will be announced later, they added.
The legacy of Rev. Uma Ukpai — in his teachings, his humility, and his fearless devotion — continues to echo through churches and lives worldwide. His life remains a living reminder of the verse he often quoted: “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
What will Nigerian Christianity look like without one of its most enduring voices, like that of Rev. Uma Ukpai?
The Life and Times of Rev. Ukpai
Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai’s journey from a modest childhood in Ohafia, Abia State, to becoming a global evangelist is a story of faith, resilience, and purpose. Orphaned at age 10, he transformed his pain into a lifelong mission of compassion and evangelism, touching lives across continents.
Over six decades, his ministry combined healing crusades, education, and humanitarian projects that gave practical expression to his gospel message. He became one of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), helping unite diverse denominations under one Christian voice after his landmark Greater Lagos for Christ Crusade in 1985.
Ukpai’s life reflected a rare blend of intellect and spirituality. Trained in Electrical Engineering, Journalism, and Divinity, he embodied the balance between science and spirit that shaped his pragmatic ministry style.
Through the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), headquartered in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he built one of Nigeria’s most vibrant non-denominational ministries — hosting mass crusades, empowerment programmes, and interdenominational revival meetings that drew people of all faiths and tribes.
His hospitals, Uma Ukpai Eye Centre and King of Kings Hospital, along with his educational institutions like the Uma Ukpai Polytechnic and School of Theology, offered free and subsidised care, scholarships, and skills training to thousands.
More than a preacher, Rev. Ukpai was a mentor and peacemaker whose influence shaped generations of Nigerian church leaders. He preached national harmony and unity through faith, often emphasising love over doctrine.
From his conversion in 1958 at age 13 until his passing in 2025, he never stopped ministering — six decades of unbroken evangelism marked by passion, humility, and nation-building.
His story remains a living testimony that one man’s faith can illuminate the world.
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