As the legacies of the cleric, Rev. Uma Ukpai, continue to reverberate, the leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has recalled with a deep sense of nostalgia his reforms and other contributions to reposition Christendom on the philosophy of God and humanity during his life time.
Amongst many of his contributions, the PFN recalled, was his inspiration in one of the Christian fora, leading to the aggregation of ideas for the birth of the PFN platform as one of the essential pillars of the Christian faith of the pentecostal hue in Nigeria.
For this and other legacies, the PFN stated that plans have been concluded to organise a posthumous thanksgiving celebration in honour of the late cleric at its 40th anniversary slated to commence from 19th of October, 2025.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the national president of PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, said the 36 states and Abuja, would hold a thanksgiving service and an award service to celebrate the late icon who played a prominent role in the formation of the organisation.
Bishop Wale-Oke, who was represented by the PFN’s national secretary, Bishop David Bakare, disclosed that the late minister of God was chosen as the sole speaker for the anniversary, regretting that “now that he is no more, the organisation will go ahead with the plans to celebrate him.”
‘’We expected that he will be the main preacher at the celebration, the 40th anniversary, and now that he’s not here, we decided that we’re going to make that 40th year anniversary a celebration of all Baba’s good works 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.
‘’And if you are part of that service, you will see what we’re going to do. We’re going to celebrate, we’re going to rejoice, we’re going to give thanks to the Lord for giving us such a great icon that we can never forget.
‘’ So we’re going to use that first level of celebration, which is the state thanksgiving service for the 40th anniversary, to celebrate him.’’
