NIGERIA: Renowned Evangelist Uma Ukpai Passes Away At 80

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigeria’s Christian community is mourning the loss of Rev. Dr Uma Ukpai, a veteran evangelist and spiritual leader, who passed on to glory on October 6, at the age of 80.

Announced via his official platforms, the family’s message described him as “a faithful soldier of the cross” who dedicated over six decades to evangelism, teaching, and prophetic ministry that impacted millions both in Nigeria and abroad.

“While we mourn his physical absence, we rejoice that he has finished his race and is now resting in eternal praise,” the family statement read, adding that details of his funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.

Born on January 7, 1945, in Asaga, Ohafia, Abia State, Uma Ukpai lost his father at a tender age, a trauma that threatened his education and future. He embraced Christianity in 1958 and later pursued formal education in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He held Certificates in Electrical Engineering Practice and Journalism, as well as undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Divinity.

His ministry, known for large-scale crusades, miracles, and spiritual revivals, extended across continents. He founded the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA) and played a central role in the formation and leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), particularly through his Greater Lagos for Christ Crusade of 1985.

Beyond preaching, Ukpai invested heavily in social and educational initiatives. He established the Uma Ukpai School of Theology (UUST), which aims to blend theological education with vocational training so graduates are empowered spiritually and economically.

He also initiated medical outreach programs, including the King of Kings Hospital and Uma Ukpai Eye Centre, which offered free or subsidised medical services to underserved communities.

Uma Ukpai authored more than fourteen books and held television ministries. He served in various leadership capacities, including President of the Nigerian Council of Gospel Ministers (COGMON) and National Chairman of the Think-Tank Committee of PFN.

The evangelist’s path was not without hardship. He lost children and faced personal tragedies, which he often framed as spiritual tests. One defining moment traced to his teenage years involved a mentally ill man who invaded his school. Ukpai later recounted that he stood and commanded the man to leave, an incident he believed launched his call to ministry.

He was known to fast and engage deeply in spiritual disciplines, often speaking candidly about the cost of leadership and spiritual warfare.