Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN has announced plans to commit its 40th anniversary to the celebration of life and legacies of Rev. Dr Uma Ukpai. The exercise which will begin on Sunday October 19 to 23 shall take place across the 36 states of the federation including the federal Capital Territory
Recall that Rev. Ukpai passed away on October 6 at age 80, but the death was officially announced by the family on Monday October 13.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Wednesday shortly after a condolence visit on the wife of the deceased, Philomena Uma Ukpai with the leadership of PFN, the National president, Bishop Francis Wale Oke said PFN did not only want to formally announce the death of Rev Ukpai but also to announce resolve to hold a thanksgiving and award service to celebrate all icons who have been of great blessings to the PFN.
Oke, represented by Bishop David Bakare, PFN National Secretary said Rev Ukpai was one of the founding fathers of PFN recalling that his (Uma Ukpai) crusade in Lagos 40 years ago gave birth to PFN which according to him can boast of over 65 million membership in Nigeria and diaspora.
He said, “PFN wishes to officially announce, not from Lagos, not from Abuja, but from the home base of Baba, to the world that we actually confirm that our father has gone to be with his Savior, whom he loved so much, and who loves him so dearly. PFN is Baba Uma Ukpai’s first born, by his crusade, he birth the PFN and nursed it till this hour. He was an icon of great value. A wonderful gift of God, not only to the church, not only to our nation, but to the entire world.
“Before his demise we had decided that he would be the sole and main preacher at the 40th year anniversary in Lagos, but as he is no more and had gone to be with the Lord, PFN has decided that we’re going to make that 40th year anniversary, a celebration of all his good work while he was here with us.
“So, on the 19th, being Sunday of this month, all the 36 states of Nigeria plus the FCT will hold a thanksgiving service and an award service to celebrate all icons who have been of great blessings to the PFN, and of course, in all the 36 states plus the FCT, Baba will be officially celebrated.”
Oke also dispelled the rumour that the 40th year anniversary would be postponed because of Uma Ukpai’s demise saying that the deceased cleric whom they know very well wouldn’t allow such a religious meeting to be shifted for any reason.
In a statement made available by the National Publicity Secretary of PFN, Dr Sylvanus Ukafia, he described Uma Ukpai as “a trailblazer of the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria, a father in the faith and one of the most enduring and comforting voices of evangelism and revival in our nation’s history.”
He added, ” Through his tireless crusades, interdenominational outreach, and the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, he brought healing, salvation, and unity to millions.
His home-going, coming on the eve of PFN’s 40th Anniversary, reminds us of the great
heritage of faith laid by our founding fathers.”
