Tears, hymns, and heartfelt tributes marked the final journey of renowned Nigerian evangelist, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, who was laid to rest on Friday, March 27, 2026, in his hometown of Asaga, Ohafia, Abia State. He was 80.
Born on January 7, 1945, and passing on October 6, 2025, Ukpai’s burial brought together a wide spectrum of mourners, from church leaders and political figures to thousands of followers whose lives were shaped by his ministry.
The burial ceremony followed a series of events held across Akwa Ibom and Abia States, including medical outreaches, services of honour, and nights of tribute, all reflecting the kind of life he lived one rooted in both faith and service to humanity.
Among those who paid respects during the funeral activities were prominent Christian leaders such as Ayo Oritsejafor, a former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Felix Omobude, a former national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, and Rev Dr. Uche Ume, the general Overseer of Power World Ministries International.Their presence reflected the deep influence Ukpai had within Nigeria’s Pentecostal movement.
Also present at earlier honour events was former Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, who joined other dignitaries and family members in celebrating the life of the late cleric.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier paid tribute to Ukpai, describing him as a “general of faith” whose ministry strengthened moral values and unity across Nigeria, a sentiment echoed by many speakers throughout the funeral proceedings.
From humble beginnings in Ohafia, Ukpai’s journey into ministry began after his conversion in 1958. Over the next six decades, he rose to become one of Nigeria’s most influential evangelists, founding the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association and playing a key role in the growth of Pentecostalism in the country.
But his impact extended far beyond preaching. He built hospitals, schools, and scholarship programmes, driven by a belief that faith must be expressed through tangible acts of service. His humanitarian work reached countless communities, particularly the underserved.
Behind the pulpit and public influence, Uma Ukpai was deeply rooted in family a man whose private life reflected the same values he preached. He was a devoted husband and father, known to those closest to him as calm, attentive, and quietly supportive. Despite the demands of decades in ministry, he maintained a strong bond with his children and extended family, often emphasizing the importance of unity, discipline, and faith at home.
Those who visited him recall a warm, welcoming presence a father figure not just to his own household, but to many who found guidance and comfort under his roof. In the end, beyond the crowds and crusades, it was this simple, steady commitment to family that defined him just as much as his public legacy.
Those who knew him closely remember not just a preacher, but a man of discipline, humility, and quiet strength someone who could command crowds yet remain deeply personal in his interactions.
As his body was lowered into the earth, the mood was heavy, yet hopeful not just mourning a man, but celebrating a life that had fulfilled its purpose.
In the end, what remained was not silence, but a legacy one carried in the lives he touched, the institutions he built, and the message he preached for over sixty years.
And in that legacy, many believe, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai will never truly be gone.