Akwa Ibom, Nigeria’s 21st State is in deep mourning following the arrival of casket containing the remains of international evangelist and God’s General, Rt. Dr. Uma Ukpai in the state.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno received the remains of the televangelist at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on Wednesday, 25 March, ahead of the funeral slated for Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Receiving the corpse, Governor Eno said the church has lost a general, and commended the departed clergy for his commitment to propagating the Gospel of Christ across the world.
“We are here to pay respect and receive the body of God’s Servant, Rev. Uma Ukpai. He lived here, served God here, and from here touched different parts of the world.
”On behalf of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, we receive his body today and hand it over to the PFN president for onward peaceful movement to the cathedral and later to Abia State for his interment,” he said.
Wale Oke, Gov Umo Eno and Philomena Ukpai welcoming the corpse
The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, commended Governor Eno for his love and solidarity with the family, and for supporting a well coordinated process leading to the final journey of the fiery evangelist.
The corpse was later taken to Victory Cathedral, Edet Akpan Avenue that houses Uma Ukapi Evangelistic Association for lying in state.
Abia Govt organises burial for Uma Ukpai
The Abia State Government will hold a state burial service in honour of the late Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai on Thursday.
Ukpai, who died on October 6, 2025, at 80, was a prominent Pentecostal preacher and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association. He was widely known for his large-scale crusades and humanitarian outreach, with a ministry that spanned over six decades and impacted lives across Nigeria and beyond.
Rt Rev Uma Ukpai
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this at Government House, Umuahia, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, March 23, 2026.
He said the event would take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, by 10:00 a.m.
Kanu described the late cleric as “a devoted ambassador of Christ whose ministerial exploits brought honour and recognition to Abia State and beyond.”
