3 weeks ago
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President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of renowned evangelist, Dr Uma Ukpai, describing him arsenic a faithful servant of God and humanity whose beingness was marked by faith, compassion, and committedness to nationalist unity.
In a connection personally signed by him connected Monday, Tinubu said the precocious Ukpai was “not conscionable different preacher, but 1 of God’s generals, filled with occurrence and crystal for the gospel and restoring humanity to discipline, love, and bully neighbourliness.”
Dr Ukpai, laminitis of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association and a cardinal pioneer of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), passed distant astatine 80.
The President noted that the celebrated evangelist was among those who spearheaded the revival question that swept crossed Nigeria and parts of Africa successful the 1980s. He recalls large crusades that defined his ministry and drew millions to the faith.
“I callback his Greater Ibadan for Christ Crusade successful 1982 and the Greater Lagos for Christ Crusade successful 1985 — 2 phenomenal events successful some proportionality and impact,” Tinubu said. “He was a firebrand and a bridge-builder whose ngo was to unite the Christian fold, fortify religion crossed divides, and beforehand bid and harmony successful the nation.”
The President extolled Dr Ukpai’s humanitarian works, noting that helium established galore charities, schools, and hospitals beyond the pulpit to uplift the mediocre and underprivileged.
“Dr Ukpai was not lone a preacher of the Word but a doer of bully works,” Tinubu added. “He built men and bridges, linking faiths, people, tongues, and tribes. He has fulfilled his divine ngo and has gone to beryllium with the Lord.
He fought the bully fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.”
While commiserating with the deceased’s family, the President urged them to find comfortableness successful his bequest — a bequest of faith, service, and emotion for humanity.
“I widen my condolences to his wife, Pastor Philomena Uma Ukpai, their children, and the full Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association. May they find solace successful knowing that helium lived a beingness worthy of emulation,” helium said.
President Tinubu prayed that God Almighty assistance the precocious evangelist eternal remainder and springiness his family, the Christian community, and each Nigerians the fortitude to carnivore the loss.
“Dr Uma Ukpai was a vas God chose to interaction lives and signifier souls. His interaction volition beryllium felt for generations,” the President concluded.
Reactions from antithetic quarters person trailed the passing distant of the Rev (Dr) Uma Ukpai, the laminitis of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, pouring encomiums connected him.
They besides praised him for being a trailblazer and for having the courageousness to preach the gospel undiluted wherever helium recovered himself, and they prayed God would assistance him eternal rest.
The renowned evangelist and planetary preacher, based successful the superior of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, died connected October 6, 2025. The origin of his decease has yet to beryllium disclosed.
In a statement, the household said: With hearts afloat of gratitude, we observe the triumphant homegoing of Rev. Dr Uma Ukpai, who passed connected to glory connected October 6, 2025, astatine 80.”
He dedicated implicit six decades to fiery evangelism, dynamic teaching of the Word, and prophetic demonstrations of God’s power.
According to the statement, Ohafia, a precocious evangelist calved successful Abia State, impacted millions of lives and transformed destinies wrong Nigeria and crossed the globe during this period.
”He was a spiritual wide known for evangelism, a founding begetter of faith, loving husband, devoted begetter and mentor to many. His beingness was a testament to God’s powerfulness and love.
”While we mourn his carnal absence, we rejoice that helium has finished his contention and is present resting successful eternal praise,” further noted.
It said they expressed gratitude to God for his bonzer beingness and enduring legacy, and the household would denote “Details of the obsequies successful owed course.”
Ukpai erstwhile said helium chose to beryllium an evangelist astatine 12 aft encountering the precocious Akanu Ibiam, the erstwhile politician of the defunct Eastern Region, astatine Bori, Rivers State.
During 1 of his yearly January 1 Solemn Assemblies successful the community, the evangelist erstwhile noted that helium had preached successful astir each country, including Russia.
The preacher, associated with occurrence healings, was the laminitis of King of Kings Hospital and Uma Ukpai University, formerly Umu Ukpai Polytechnic, Asaga Ohafia, among different organisations.
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