President Tinubu’s Tribute to the Late Evangelist Dr. Uma Ukpai
With a heavy heart, I mourn the passing of one of God’s generals, Evangelist Dr. Uma Ukpai. He was not just another preacher, but an anointed crusader of faith — filled with divine fire for the gospel and committed to restoring humanity to discipline, love, and good neighbourliness.
Dr. Ukpai, who passed on at the age of 80, was an international evangelist, founder and president of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, and one of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
Born in the small town of Asaga, Ohafia in Abia State, Evangelist Ukpai endured many challenges in his early years, yet God’s purpose for his life remained steadfast. He obeyed the divine call and went on to impact generations through his remarkable ministry.
He was one of the great revival leaders who brought the fire of spiritual awakening that swept across Nigeria and parts of Africa in the 1980s. I recall his Greater Ibadan for Christ Crusade in 1982 and the Greater Lagos for Christ Crusade in 1985 — both phenomenal events in scale and spiritual impact.
Dr. Ukpai’s mission was clear: to unite the Christian faith, promote interfaith understanding, and spread peace and harmony. He was a builder — of men, of bridges between faiths, and of bonds among people of different tongues and tribes.
Beyond his pulpit ministry, he was a humanitarian who established charities, schools, and hospitals to uplift the less privileged.
Dr. Uma Ukpai has fulfilled his divine assignment and has gone to be with the Lord. Truly, he fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.
I pray that Almighty God grant him eternal rest. I commiserate with his beloved wife, Pastor Philomena Uma Ukpai, his children, and all members of his ministry. May they find solace in the great legacy of this faithful servant of God.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja
October 13, 2025.
