By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Christian community in Nigeria and across Africa has been thrown into mourning following the passing of one of the continent’s most renowned preachers and evangelists, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, who joined the saints triumphant on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80.
According to a statement issued by his family, the revered clergyman and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association passed away peacefully, marking the glorious end of a lifetime of fiery evangelism, prophetic ministry, and unwavering devotion to God.
Describing his passing as a “glorious transition,” the family celebrated Rev. Ukpai as “a faithful soldier of the cross” who dedicated over six decades of his life to preaching the gospel, teaching the Word, and demonstrating the power of faith through miracles and revival crusades that touched millions of lives across Nigeria and beyond.
“While we mourn his physical absence, we rejoice that he has finished his race and is now resting in eternal praise,” the family said in a statement, adding that details of his burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
They further expressed gratitude to God for the extraordinary life, ministry, and enduring legacy of the late evangelist, noting that his life epitomized love, humility, and the transformative power of faith in God.
Reacting to the sad news, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has joined millions of Christians worldwide in mourning the death of the revered evangelist, describing his transition as “a monumental loss to Nigeria and the entire body of Christ.”
In a condolence statement issued on Monday through his Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, Governor Soludo extolled Rev. Dr. Ukpai as a true father of faith, a fearless preacher, and a spiritual giant whose ministry transformed lives and reshaped the trajectory of Christian evangelism in Nigeria and beyond.
The Governor noted that the story of modern Christianity in Nigeria would be incomplete without the indelible contributions of Rev. Ukpai, whose evangelistic campaigns, theological teachings, and unshakable faith inspired generations of believers.
He described the late clergyman as a pivotal institution in Christian evangelism, national uprightness, and the Nigerian Pentecostal movement, further recalling that his crusades and teachings were powerful instruments of salvation, healing, and hope to millions around the world.
“Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai was not just a preacher of the gospel; he was a messenger of divine purpose, a vessel through whom God touched countless lives,” he stated, adding that Ukpai’s death is a huge loss, but his life remains a shining example of faith, courage, and service to humanity.
The Governor also extended his condolences to the late evangelist’s immediate family, the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, and the entire Christian community, praying that God would grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his loved ones in this moment of grief.
