Rev. Uma Ukpai Immortalised in Abia as Calls Grow for State Recognition

Late evangelist Rev. Uma Ukpai has been immortalised in Abia State, with a memorial reportedly erected in his hometown of Asaga, Ohafia, in honour of his life and impact.

The revered cleric, who passed away in 2025 at the age of 80, was a pioneer of Pentecostal evangelism in Nigeria and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association. Over decades, his ministry touched lives through preaching, humanitarian outreach, and support for education.

While the local immortalisation reflects the deep respect he commanded within his community, prominent voices, including former Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu, have continued to call for broader, official state recognition.

Many believe that beyond physical monuments, immortalising Ukpai should also preserve the values he stood for, faith, discipline, compassion, and service to humanity.

As tributes continue, his legacy remains firmly rooted not just in structures, but in the countless lives he influenced.