Gov Eno Eulogises Late Rev Uma Ukpai At Night Of Songs, Tributes

… Says He Was A Gift To A’Ibom, Humanity 
By Bassey Nkponam 
UYO
 The Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has eulogised the Late Reverend Uma Ukpai saying the deceased was a gift to Akwa Ibom and humanity.
At the Night of Songs and Tributes organised by the State government, Friday, at the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo, as part of the home going ceremonies in honour of the former National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), late Reverend Uma Ukpai, Governor Eno described the deceased as an embodiment of morality who used his unfettered access to leaders across the globe to advance causes that helped the poor and the downtrodden.
He acknowledged the late Ukpai’s role as a mentor, and spiritual leader whose contributions helped define the spiritual soul of the State, while also appreciating him for founding the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association headquartered in Uyo, from where he propagated the gospel around the world with passion, power and prophetic insight, leading multitudes to Christ, and raising a generation of evangelists across the globe.
Eno recalled the consistent prayers of the deceased for the peace and progress of the State and  his wise counsel that he acknowledged strengthened the State’s shared pursuit of sustainable growth and spiritual renewal.
According to him, “for over six decades, he defined the spiritual soul of our dear State. Even though he was from our neighbouring Abia State, the world knew him through his Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, headquartered here in Uyo”, adding, “Uyo was his home, his base. Uyo had all of the blessings, and he was a gift to us. So we celebrate him tonight.
The governor, who described the late Ukpai as one of the strong supporters of his administration’s ARISE Agenda, highlighted numerous achievements of the agenda which he identified as being some of the desires of the late cleric, assuring that he would never let him and the church down.
Eno explained that within the last two and a half years, his administration has focused on creating a tourism hub, medical tourism hub, and an aviation tourism hub for the State, adding that the rural communities were also receiving adequate attention with all the 368 wards having the footprints of government. 
He noted that the government was also building youths-friendly centres where youths can congregate to learn for self development, while women were formed into cooperative societies where funds will be injected to enable them start up businesses for self reliance.
   Eno, who said the deceased had loved him personally, particularly consoled Ukpai’s wife, Philomena and family, assuring them of the State’s commitment to supporting them in advancing the dreams of the deceased cleric, saying, “for us here in Akwa Ibom State, there will never be good byes for our dear father and Christian General, Reverend (Dr) Uma Ukpai”.
Ministering on the theme, “Across the Bridge”, with text drawn from Mark 16:6, Dr. Emmanuel Kure of the Throne Room Ministry, described the late Ukpai as a great spiritual intercessor, a hero of faith, and an exceptional embodiment of power whose presence commanded audacity and authority of the Holy Spirit. 
According to Kure, Rev Ukpai’s death has quickened the spiritual growth of young preachers who must rise up and fill the vacuum created by his death.
National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, in his tribute, acknowledged the deceased as one of the founding fathers of PFN, an organisation with the goal of uniting all Pentecostal denominations in Nigeria, thanking God for His grace in his life.
Oke described the late Ukpai as a passionate leader, a man of miracles, signs and wonders, and called on Christians to emulate him and continuously encourage and pray for his family to sustain his legacies.
   Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, who spoke on behalf of Akwa Ibom stakeholders, described late Rev Ukpai as a man of truth, honour, courage, passion and conviction, who believed in mentoring leaders to boost human capital development in the State.
Assam highlighted the deceased’s mentorship achievements from the early days at the Scripture Union to the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association which, he acknowledged, has helped in producing quality leaders in the State.
He thanked God for the gift of the late cleric whom, he said, was an irreplaceable asset to the State, noting that sparing a night to honour him was a mark of gratitude.