His death was formally announced on his official Instagram handle, @Uma_Ukpai, on Monday, in a statement titled “With hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate the triumphant homegoing of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai.” The message expressed profound gratitude to God for his lifetime of spiritual service and unwavering devotion to spreading the gospel.
“With hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate the triumphant homegoing of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, who passed on to glory on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80. A faithful soldier of the cross has been called to rest,” the family’s statement read.
It described the late evangelist as a “spiritual general known for fiery evangelism, dynamic teaching of the Word, and prophetic demonstrations of God’s power.” For more than six decades, Ukpai devoted his life to Christian ministry, touching millions of lives within and beyond Nigeria through his non-denominational outreach and message of salvation.
Born in 1945, Rev. Ukpai founded the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, headquartered in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which became a major platform for interdenominational revival meetings and gospel crusades across Africa and beyond. His ministry was distinguished by its focus on healing, deliverance, and unity among Christian denominations, earning him recognition as one of Nigeria’s foremost evangelists.
The statement added that while his physical presence will be deeply missed, his legacy of faith, humility, and service will continue to inspire generations.
“While we mourn his physical absence, we rejoice that he has finished his race and is now resting in eternal praise. Details of the obsequies will be announced in due course by the family,” the post concluded, citing Philippians 1:21 — ‘To live is Christ, and to die is gain.’
Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai is survived by his wife, children, and numerous spiritual protégés across the world, who continue to uphold his vision of evangelism and nation-building through faith.
His passing marks the end of an era for Nigeria’s evangelical movement, but his message and ministry remain indelibly etched in the hearts of millions who encountered his work.