Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, President of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association Inc., (UUEA) has expressed surprise at being selected as winner of The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.
In his remarks when he was presented with the award, Ukpai expressed gratitude to The Sun Newspaper for the honour bestowed on him.
“I am completely short of words over my “Nomination for the Sun Lifetime Achievement Award 2023”. I became more inquisitive about the content of the letter dated November 20,2023.
“The content was that, “After a Rigorous Selection Process”, the Board of Editors of the Sun Publishing Limited, “Picked” me as the, “Winner of The Sun Life Time Achievement Award For 2023”.
“Honestly speaking, that was a surprise and probably flabbergasting, because this is an acknowledgment and validation of the fact that God watches over the affairs of men on earth,” Ukpai said.
The revered Man of God went on to say: “The Mass Media, particularly, The Sun Newspaper, over the years watches over what we do, how we do it, when we do it and who benefits from what we do.
“Hence, the Social Responsibility Functions of the Mass Media, particularly the Sun Newspaper, as the “Watch Dog of the society, Gate Keeper of the Society, Court of Public Opinion and Conscience of the Society.
“Therefore, on behalf of my humble self, my wife – Pastor (Dr.) Mrs. Philomena O. Uma, my family and the entire members of our fellowship, The Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association Inc., we want to say a very big thank you for this great honour, acknowledgment and validation of what we do, who we are and how we have been able to lend a helping hand to our fellow brothers and sisters.
“In other words, a show of love which God commanded us to do.
“This day will therefore remain historically remarkable in the history of our historic event.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it might interest you to know that the humble journey of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic dates back to 1972 when we responded to God’s visitation in 1959, while in Ogoni, in the present Rivers State, Nigeria.
“And since then, till now, the God we serve has been unbelievably faithful in all ramifications against all odds.
“Aside from ministering the word of God to millions of faithfuls over the fifty countries, our ministry in addition has equally reached out to hundreds of Nigerians through our Social Responsibility Platforms, like the Uma Ukpai Fashion School, Uma Ukpai School of Theology, Uma Ukpai Polytechnic, Radiance Entrepreneurial Development Service Limited, an affiliate of Joseph Business School, Chicago in United States of America.
“Our commitment to pulling people out of poverty has vividly exemplified and validated last year 2023, when we brought succour to hundreds of Nigerians with donations of millions of naira, donations of sewing machines and other items that will put smiles and hope in the hearts of the needy.
“We have also given academic scholarships to students of Uma Ukpai School of Theology, Asaga, Ohafia and University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, worth 75 million within 5 years.
“I want to assure you all that with God on our side, The Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, will continue to do what it is known and even more.
“Therefore, on behalf of my humble self, my wife, and the entire members of our Association, we want to say a very big thank you, to Nigerians, Board of the Editors of The Sun Newspaper, Publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun and The Sporting Sun for this great recognition. Thank you very much”.