The fifth child of the late renowned evangelist, Rev. Uma Ukpai, Dwight Uma, has said there were unusual signs before his father’s death.
In a statement titled “Glorious Transition” and signed by the family, Ukpai was said to have “passed on to glory” on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80.
In an interview with Punch, Dwight said there were subtle signs regarding Ukpai’s demise, stressing that a few years ago, his father also predicted he would leave at a particular time.
He said, “I can’t speak for all my siblings, but I’ve noticed a few things. Some years ago, I had dreams about events that unfolded this year, though I didn’t fully understand them at the time. I had hoped God would give us more time with him, but certain prayers and impressions worried me. Even so, we know God’s wisdom exceeds ours. We didn’t want him to go, and we wished he could have stayed longer. But we also know that God owns every life, and he is God’s first. There were subtle signs, and years back, my father himself had predicted he would leave at a certain time.”
Speaking about the last conversation with his father, Dwight Uma said, “He tried not to make it obvious that he was leaving us. I remember one moment clearly: our last youth conference in Uyo. Despite having travelled a long distance days before, he insisted on coming to encourage us. He wasn’t coming to preach or perform; he just wanted to be present and lift our spirits. My dad often preferred being part of the service quietly, offering support rather than being in the spotlight.
“He also spoke a few personal words that have stayed with us. To one of my siblings, he said, “Take care of your mother.” Barely two weeks after that, he passed on. That moment has left a lasting impression on all of us.”
Dwight also said the family made a lot of sacrifices for the ministry, adding, “There were many sacrifices we made as a family. For most of our upbringing, we didn’t always have him around. There were times we wanted him to attend school events, like parent-teacher meetings, but he was away travelling. Sometimes I wanted to speak with him personally, but he wasn’t available. As children, we didn’t always have him to ourselves. Our lives were intertwined with the ministry, supporting him and serving God.
“Yes, we didn’t have the usual childhood experiences, but we understood that God had called him to his work. As we grew older, we embraced that calling and supported him wholeheartedly.
“In fact, we came to believe there was no better life than to serve God and give our best. We made many sacrifices, including travelling long distances for meetings in far-off regions. Most villages and towns required our accompaniment. It wasn’t always easy, but for the work of God, we understood the necessity of those sacrifices.”
