President Tinubu Mourns Evangelist Uma Ukpai, Describes Him As God’s General

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of renowned international evangelist and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, Dr. Uma Ukpai, describing him as “one of God’s generals” who dedicated his life to spreading the gospel and promoting peace among Nigerians.

In a statement issued from the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu said the late cleric was “an anointed crusader of the faith, filled with fire and ice for the gospel and restoring humanity to discipline, love, and good neighbourliness.” Dr. Ukpai, who passed away at the age of 80, was also one of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and a pivotal figure in the Christian revival movement that swept across Nigeria and parts of Africa in the 1980s.

The President recalled the evangelist’s historic crusades — the Greater Ibadan for Christ Crusade in 1982 and the Greater Lagos for Christ Crusade in 1985 — describing them as “phenomenal events in proportion and impact.” “Dr. Ukpai’s mission was clearly to unite the Christian fold and different faiths, spreading peace and harmony. He was a builder — building men and bridges linking different faiths, people, tongues, and tribes,” the President stated. Beyond his evangelical work, President Tinubu noted that Dr. Ukpai was also a humanitarian who established several charities, schools, and hospitals for the underprivileged. “Dr. Ukpai has fulfilled his divine mission and has gone to be with the Lord. He fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith,” the President said. President Tinubu condoled with the deceased’s wife, Pastor Philomena Uma Ukpai, his children, and members of his ministry, urging them to find comfort in the enduring legacy of the revered servant of God. “I pray that God Almighty grant him eternal rest,” the statement concluded.