The Hidden Life of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai

Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai was born in January 1945 in the small town of Asaga, Ohafia, in Abia State, Nigeria. He entered the world in humble surroundings, yet with divine purpose written upon his life. The atmosphere of his childhood was one of simplicity and struggle. His father died when he was still very young, leaving his mother to raise him under great hardship. Poverty and loneliness became familiar companions, yet out of that brokenness God was quietly shaping a vessel of revival.

His early years were marked by pain, but also by the mysterious hand of God. As a child he was drawn to the things of the Spirit. He listened intently to the stories of missionaries and preachers who passed through the villages of Eastern Nigeria, and something inside him stirred. Even before he understood what ministry was, he sensed a divine calling. It was not ambition but destiny that began to whisper to him in those formative years.

When he entered secondary school, that inner conviction grew stronger. He once recalled that during a visit by the governor of Eastern Nigeria, students were asked what they desired to become in life. Some said they would be doctors, others lawyers, but young Uma, filled with unusual confidence, replied that he would be a preacher of the gospel. It was a statement that surprised everyone, but time would prove it to be prophetic.

Life after his father’s death was not easy. Because of his Christian faith, he faced rejection from relatives who could have supported his education. Yet rather than despair, he worked with his hands, saving money to complete his studies. His determination became a testimony to divine grace. He labored during the day, studied at night, and trusted that the God who called him would sustain him.

In 1958, at the age of thirteen, he encountered the living Christ in a life-changing conversion experience. From that day, his journey with God began in earnest. Soon afterward, he witnessed the first demonstration of God’s power through his life. During his school years, a violent madman invaded the school compound. As students fled, Uma heard the voice of God speak within him, saying that he had authority to command the madness to cease. With trembling faith he obeyed. He spoke a single command in the name of Jesus Christ, and to everyone’s astonishment, the man fell to the ground and rolled out of the school.

After completing his education, he pursued further studies abroad. He obtained a Certificate in Electrical Engineering Practice and a Diploma in Journalism from the School of Journalism and Television in the United Kingdom. He later earned degrees in Divinity from South Florida Christian College, Miami, and Carolina Christian University in the United States. His studies prepared him intellectually, but his true training came from the school of the Holy Spirit.

From the earliest days of his ministry, he knew that his calling was to preach salvation, healing, and deliverance to the nations. In 1972 he founded the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, headquartered in Uyo, Nigeria, which became the channel through which God would pour His power to multitudes. His crusades soon spread across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Wherever he preached, signs and wonders followed. Cripples walked, blind eyes opened, barren women conceived, and broken homes were restored.

Beyond the pulpit, Ukpai invested heavily in education and social transformation. He established the Uma Ukpai Polytechnic and the Uma Ukpai School of Theology, institutions dedicated to raising men and women of excellence and integrity. He also pioneered interdenominational Christian gatherings that fostered unity among believers in Nigeria, long before ecumenical collaboration became common.

Despite challenges and opposition, Uma Ukpai remained a symbol of steadfast faith. His preaching emphasized that God’s power is not confined to the church building but should be demonstrated in everyday life. He often declared, “The proof of power is the changed life,” urging believers to live in holiness and love.

His life was sustained by a deep and disciplined life of prayer. He was known to spend long nights in communion with God before major crusades, seeking divine direction rather than human strategy. He often told young ministers that “a minister without prayer is a monument without power.” His ministry’s strength rested upon secret intercession and a heart that sought to please God above all else.

Dr. Ukpai passed away in 2025, leaving behind his wife, Pastor Philomena Ukpai, and children, as well as countless spiritual sons and daughters across the world. Until his final days, he continued preaching, teaching, and interceding for revival in Nigeria and the nations.