Umar Ukpai Over Takes David Oyedepo
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Dr Uma Ukpai, a Christian leader, an international evangelist, preacher and founder, Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, UUEA, a non denominational gospel ministry based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria has over taken Bishop David Oyedepo in asset acquisition and wealth.
Fresh information available to OpenLife indicates that the 77 years old key leader of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, is building a N175 billion church auditorium that can seat 120,000 worshippers in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
The auditorium is designed in the frame of an indoor stadium and projected to be the largest church auditorium in the world.
With ground breaking on September 2, the auditorium is expected to be completed in 36 months
The architects said the auditorium has event centres, meeting rooms, a clinic, three helipads, a petrol station, a hotel, offices and diverse parking lots.
Curiously, the Ohafia church project has technically positioned Umar Ukpai as the largest religion asset owner on the Africa Continent, displacing Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church , popularly known as Winners Chapel, who is currently building a 100,000-seater auditorium, known as ‘The Ark at an estimated cost of N160 billion.
Only recently, Oyedepo’s new auditorium was ranked as the world’s largest. But Umar Ukpai’s new auditorium has displaced him to second position.
Oyedepo’s new auditorium, which has its ground breaking in 2021, is sited on about 1,000 hectares of land (the site of the old Faith Academy compound), within the vast premises of the current church building. The auditorium is expected to include a 24-Floor Mission Tower (International Headquarters Facility) made up of two twin towers of 12 floors each.
When completed, the existing 50,000- seater Faith Tabernacle will serve as an overflow facility.
Born on January 7, 1945, in Asaga, Ohafia, Abia State, Uma Ukpai converted to Christianity in 1958. He lost his father to death at the age of 10.
He attended Uma Ukpai Memorial Primary School, Asaga, and Khana County Council School, Ogoni. Uma passed through All Saints Secondary School, Aba, and Niger Delta Technical School, now Boys Technical College, Aba. He graduated from the School of Journalism and Television, Frisham, Hermitage, United Kingdom; South Florida Christian College Miami, Florida, USA; Carolina Christian University and Burke Bible College, Kentucky, USA. He holds a Certificate in Electrical Engineering Practice, a Diploma in Journalism, a Bachelor and Doctorate Degrees in Divinity.
Dr. Uma is married to Pastor Philomena Uma Ukpai with children.
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