Rev. Uma Ukpai, renowned international evangelist and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, has reportedly passed away.
The revered cleric, known globally for his evangelistic outreach and healing ministry, was said to have died on Monday, according to multiple reports shared on social media and faith-based platforms.
Prophet Joel Ogebe, a cleric, had earlier broken the news on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “A giant has gone to be with the Lord. My father, my father, the chariot of Israel. Heaven rejoices. Uyo.”
Shortly after, Church Gist, a prominent Christian news platform, also posted a tribute on Facebook, confirming the cleric’s passing. The post read: “A GENERAL TAKES A BOW! EVANGELIST UMA UKPAI HAS GONE TO BE WITH THE LORD. REST IN POWER, SIR.”
Rev. Ukpai, 78, was one of Nigeria’s most respected Christian leaders and a pioneer in evangelism. His ministry, founded in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in the 1970s, became a major force in spreading the gospel across Africa and beyond.
He was widely admired for his healing crusades, mentorship of young pastors, and his unwavering message of faith and salvation. For decades, his association organized mass evangelistic programmes that drew crowds from across Nigeria and other parts of the world.
Tributes have begun to pour in from Christian leaders, congregants, and admirers across the country, celebrating the life and legacy of a man many describe as one of Nigeria’s greatest evangelists.
