President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of Uma Ukpai, renowned evangelist and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA).
In a statement on Monday, the president described the late fiery cleric, who died at 80, as a “general of God” and a passionate crusader for the Christian faith.
Tinubu said Ukpai’s mission was clearly to unite the Christian fold and different faiths, adding that his efforts were crucial in building bridges across diverse communities.
The president said beyond Ukpai’s spiritual work, he was also a humanitarian, establishing charities, schools, and hospitals to support the underprivileged.
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“He obeyed the divine call and impacted generations with his ministry. He was one of the leaders in the Lord’s army who brought the fervour of revival sweeping across Nigeria and parts of Africa in the 1980s,” the statement reads.
“He was a firebrand. I recall his Greater Ibadan for Christ crusade in 1982 and the Greater Lagos for Christ crusade in 1985, two phenomenal events in proportion and impact. Dr Ukpai’s mission was clearly to unite the Christian fold and different faiths and spread peace and harmony.
“He was a builder, building men and bridges linking different faiths, people, tongues, and tribes. He was also a humanitarian, as he set up many charities, schools, and hospitals for the underprivileged.
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“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.
“I pray that God Almighty grants him eternal rest. I commiserate with his family, especially his wife, Pastor Philomena Uma Ukpai, and his children, as well as members of his ministry.”
