Born January 7, 1945, in Asaga, Ohafia, Abia State, Uma Ukpai was a man given fully to the Gospel, and that singular act made him tranverse the globe.
Just like the Apostles in Acts, Ukpai went into all the nations, teaching, preaching and healing the sick. He was called to be an evangelist.
As a dedicated evangelist, Ukpai never thought it necessary to establish a church of his own; instead, he stayed rooted in the evangelic ministry known as the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), a non-denominational gospel ministry based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
A unifying preacher
As an evangelist, Ukpai was given to unifying the body of Christ in Nigeria, and by extension, the world at large.
Hence, he was among the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) with his Greater Lagos for Christ Crusade of 1985, without having a church of his own.
His ministry conducted inter-denominational crusades across Nigeria in the early 80s and 90s.
Beyond citywide crusades, Ukpai also conduct medical outreaches riding on the back of the Uma Ukpai Eye Centre, and King of Kings Hospital, a specialist hospital in Abia State, that services communities in some South-east and South-south states.
Read also: Uma Ukpai: A man fully given to the gospel – Primate Udofia
A preacher given to education
As a global evangelist, Uma Ukpai was given to education, understanding very early the roles education plays in the early ‘Church Movement’
He founded the Uma Ukpai School of Theology and Biblical Studies, Uyo. He was also the proprietor of the Uma Ukpai Polytechnic, Asaga; Uma Ukpai Scholarship Foundation, and Joseph Business School, which is affiliated to Joseph Business School, Chicago, USA.
Testimonials about Ukpai
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the umbrella body for all the churches in Nigeria, described Uma Ukpai as ‘God’s General’, whose lifetime of service touched many within and beyond the Church.
“Reverend Dr Ukpai was a towering figure in the Church in Nigeria whose evangelistic ministry spanned over six decades. Through crusades, teachings, and acts of charity, he devoted his life to preaching the gospel, nurturing faith, and advancing the cause of Christ across denominations and regions.
“His unwavering commitment to the work of God and his passion for the salvation of souls left an enduring mark on the Christian community in Nigeria and beyond. Generations of believers have been inspired by his message of faith, healing, and hope in Christ Jesus,” CAN said in a statement signed by Daniel Okoh, its national president.
Emmanuel Udofia, the former Primate of The African Church, described Uma Ukpai as a man fully given to the gospel and the things of God.
“The Reverend Dr Uma Ukpai was a gift of God to our generation, not only to the church but also to our generation. Because there are so many people even outside the church that have benefited from his light,” Udofia told BusinessDay.
According to him, Ukpai’s death is a loss to Nigerians and the Church at large. “So when it comes to the church, he was a man that by the grace of God was dedicated to the work of God,” Udofia said.
Joseph Ojo, the presiding Archbishop of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC), said Ukpai was never obsessed with ambition. “Since the call of God came upon his life, he never turned back.
“He began as a member, a minister in the Assemblies of God; he never left to start a church,” Ojo said.
Read also: Renowned evangelist Uma Ukpai dies at 80
According to Ojo, Ukpai knew what God called him for and pursued it with vigour, grace, and great fulfilment.
“He started with the evangelical ministry all these years. So, he was a man who knew what God called him for. And his impact is not only within this country, or continents, but across the globe,” Ojo said.
The UUEA ministry was focus on faith, healing, and spiritual leadership, and was also known for large city-wide crusades and prophetic teaching.
Crusades
Uma Ukpai was well known for citywide crusades across Nigeria. Before his death on October 6, 2025, the late Ukpai holds a yearly crusade tagged, ‘Greater Ohafia For Christ Crusade’.
In 2016, Ukpai held the Anioma One-million Man Crusade, in collaboration with Celestine Iwendi, a lecturer and Pastor-in-charge, The Comfort Zone Ministries, Uma.
He also organised the Nsukka 2012, and Greater Ibadan for Christ 1982, before coming to Lagos for the ‘Greater Lagos for Christ Crusade’ of 1985.
