04/03/2026
AKWA IBOM, ABIA SET FOR HISTORIC BURIAL OF REV. DR. UMA UKPAI
By DFBmedia TV
Akwa Ibom and Abia states are set to host a historic farewell for Uma Ukpai, the renowned Nigerian Christian leader and international evangelist whose passing on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80 marked the end of an era in Nigeria’s Pentecostal movement, DFBmedia TV reports.
Born on January 7, 1945, Rev. Dr. Ukpai was the founder and president of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, a global gospel ministry headquartered in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Through decades of evangelistic crusades, leadership conferences and humanitarian initiatives, he built a ministry that reached across denominational and national boundaries. He was also a founding figure in the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, helping to shape and strengthen Nigeria’s Pentecostal community.
In a statement released by the late cleric’s family and received by DFBmedia TV, funeral activities will begin on March 8, 2026, with the opening of the mourning house at Ewet Housing Estate in Uyo. A medical and welfare outreach will follow on March 14 in Nkek Village, Ukanafun Local Government Area, reflecting the late cleric’s longstanding commitment to community development and compassionate service.
A Service of Honour is scheduled for March 18 at the UUEA Victory Cathedral in Uyo, while the Akwa Ibom State Government will hold a commendation service on March 20 at the International Worship Center along Udo Udoma Avenue, in recognition of his spiritual and social contributions to the state and the nation.
Activities will then move to Abia State, where another medical outreach will take place on March 24 in Asaga, Ohafia. A Song of Tribute will be held on March 26, ahead of the State Burial ceremony later that morning at the International Conference Center in Umuahia. The final interment service is slated for March 27 in his hometown of Asaga, Ohafia.
Church leaders, government officials and thousands of followers from within and outside Nigeria are expected to attend the ceremonies, widely described as a celebration of a life devoted to evangelism, national transformation and humanitarian impact. As preparations intensify, tributes continue to pour in, affirming Rev. Dr. Ukpai’s enduring legacy in both church and society.