President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of renowned evangelist Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, describing him as “an anointed crusader of the faith, filled with fire and ice for the gospel.”
In a heartfelt tribute issued on Monday, the President said Ukpai was among the spiritual leaders who ignited waves of Christian revival across Nigeria and parts of Africa in the 1980s, inspiring generations through his passion for unity, peace, and evangelism.
“With a heavy heart, I mourn the passing of one of God’s generals, Dr. Uma Ukpai,” the President stated. “He was not just another preacher but a vessel chosen to restore humanity through discipline, love, and good neighbourliness.”
Tinubu recalled Ukpai’s legendary crusades, Greater Ibadan for Christ in 1982 and Greater Lagos for Christ in 1985, describing them as phenomenal events that brought thousands to faith.
He praised the late cleric’s mission to unite the Christian community and promote interfaith harmony, calling him “a builder of men and bridges linking different faiths, people, tongues, and tribes.”
Born in Asaga, Ohafia, Abia State, the 80-year-old evangelist was the founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association and a co-founder of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
President Tinubu concluded his message by celebrating Ukpai’s enduring legacy of faith and service, saying his life “will continue to shine as a light of hope and inspiration for generations to come.”
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