Abstract

Life is not the number of years lived on earth but the life performance in the years lived. This biography narrows down the evolution; fisherman, priest, father, mentor; that prepared him for the enormous tasks during his episcopate. Among his legacies was the creation of the Missionary Diocese of Eket which he had on his little notepad. He performed these feats before death seized him, though his legacies still speak for him.

Contents

Bishop Owen’s Episcopacy
Death and Last Moment
Conclusion

Evolution of Owen Amos Ukafia

Born on Wednesday 5^th December 1962, into the Ede Royal Group of Houses in Okorete Town with the name Owen Amos Ukafia, named after his uncle, as it has been a tradition of naming children after beloved family members in the community. He was the second child of five (5) children of his parents, Late Pa Amos Ukafia (of blessed memory) and Mrs. Roseline Ukafia.

Bishop Owen Amos Ukafia started his primary school career at St. Silas’ Anglican School, Okoroete Town where he had his first school leaving certificate in 1980

Being a young man and had more quest for knowledge, he proceeded to the

Esetang High School, Ekim, Mkpat Enin in 1980 and gained his West African Senior School Certificate in 1986

Bishop Owen Amos Ukafia had no more money to further his education, rather than staying ideal he joined his uncle in his fishing expedition.

In 1991 he left for the Trinity (Union) Theological College, Umuahia where he obtained a diploma in Theological and later further to the University of Calabar for a degree in Philosophy and Religion.

In 2012, Bishop Owen Ukafia was awarded a degree of Master’s in Divinity from the Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary.

Marriage

Proverb 18:22 says “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord”

These scriptures came to fulfillment in the life of the young Owen Ukafia when he met his heartthrob then Miss Zilpah Amanawaji Smart.

After fulfilling all requirements according to laws and traditions. On the 4^th of January 1992, the young couple was joined by the Rev. Can. J.S. Ayagwung (of blessed memory) at St. Silas Anglican Church, Okoroete. This Union is blessed with three lovely children.

Bishop Owen’s Early Life

Whilst young Owen had decided not to remain ideal. In the late 1980’s he was appointed as an account clerk officer at Ikot Abasi local government area. While in the service as the clerk officer, he got the call to serve the Lord. Bishop Owen joined the ministry of the ordained priesthood, furthered his studies at the University of Calabar and after his convocation from the university Bishop Owen got employed with the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service as an Administrative Officer II, with the ministry of Justice from 2001 and in 2008 he voluntarily retired from the service of the State to be focused on a full-time ministry.

Bishop Owen’s Ministry Journey

As Christians, it is believed that the first step to being a body of the church is through baptism. Hence bishop Owen was baptised on the 24^th of March 1966 by Rev. F. I Dienye (now Ven. F.I Dienye of blessed memory) with the Christian name Owen Amos Ukafia.

Bishop Owen was subsequently confirmed as a communicant of the Anglican Communion on the 16^th of June 1991 by Most Rev. Emmanuel Nglass of blessed memory.

Bishop Owen got the call to serve the Lord as his servant. By 1991, Owen sat for the entrance examination for a diploma programme at Trinity (Union) Theological College, Umuahia, Abia State, and in 1994 he had completed his three years diploma course sponsored by the Diocese of Uyo through Chief Alexander Chika Okafor (KSC).

On the 10^th of July 1994, Bishop Owen was made a Deacon at the Cathedral church of All Saint’s Uyo and was posted to St. John’s the Baptist Anglican Church Ikot Ekpene to understudy the Rev. Ibegbuna. On the 16^th of July 1995 He was priested at the Cathedral Church of All Saints in the Diocese of Uyo by Rt Rev Emmanuel Nglass, making him part of the first set of priests to be theologically trained for the Diocese.

The call of God on Bishop Owen had always been a call to serve the Lord as a missionary and Evangelist, this was not far from his activities in the newly created diocese, where church planting and rural evangelism was the order of the day. The Lord used his servant in the planting of various churches in the Diocese, the first church planted was All souls Anglican Church Ibiaku – Ikono 1995 and re-planted St. Valentine Anglican Church Oku Iboku, Itu 1996. Due to this activities in the area of Church planting and Evangelization, he was appointed as the Diocesan Missioner from 1998 to 2008, in 1994 he was appointed the Diocesan AYF chaplain to 1997, which he served as the pioneer youth chaplain of the Diocese; Clerical synod Secretary 2004 – 2012 by this, he became the longest serving Synod Secretary of the Diocese.

It is worthy of note that, while the Diocese was in its crisis, this however did not deter him from carryout his church planting activities and rural evangelism. This period birthed St. Nicholas Anglican Church, Iko town Eastern Obolo in 2003 and Anglican Church of Transfiguration of Our Lord (ACTOL) in 2004. Actol is the Archdeaconry Headquaters of Uyo East.

The following churches were planted/revived by the Bishop Owen Ukafia:

Churches Planted in the Diocese;

• Anglican Missionary Church, Nsie-Okobo	2018
• Anglican Missionary Churh, Itak Ikono	2018
• Anglican Missionary Churh, Utaewa, Ikot Abasi	2015
• Ebenezer Anglican Church, Okoroutip, Ibeno	2011
• Anglican Missionary Churh, Edebok, Eket L.G.A	2011
• Victorious Faith Anglican Church, Esit Urua, Eket L.G.A	2011
• St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Okoroitak, Ibeno	2011
• Fountain of Wisdom Anglican Church, Ntit Oton, Nsit Ubuim L.G.A	2011
• Resurrected Newlife Anglican Church, Uquo, Esit Eket L.G.A	2010
• Anglican Missionary Churh, Ikot Edibon , Nsit Ubium L.G.A	2010
• Anglican Church of Resurrection, Ikot Antia, Ukanafun L.G.A	2008
• Anglican Church of Transfiguration (ACTOL), Uyo	2004
• St. Nicholas Anglican Church, Iko, Eastern Obolo	2003
• RE-planted St. James Ikot Ibritam	2002
• St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Eyofin, Udung Uko L.G.A	2000

• RE-planted St. Valentine Anglican Church, Oku Iboku Itu L.G.A	1996
• All Soul’s Anglican Church, Ibiaku-Ikono L.G. A	1995

On the 2^nd of February 2002 Bishop Owen was installed a Canon of the Cathedral Church of All Saint’s Uyo and on 4^th June 2006 he was collated a Venerable Archdeacon of the Anglican Diocese of Uyo by Most Rev. Emmanuel Ebenezer Nglass (of blessed memory).

Bishop Owen Ukafia served the lord diligently before his higher calling into the episcopacy of the Anglican Diocese of Uyo.

For 18 years he served as an Archdeacon in the Diocese and pastored all Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Uyo before his elevation in 2024.

Bishop Owen’s Episcopacy

On the 9^th of February 2024, at the Standing committee of the Church of Nigeria held at Ika Diocese, then Venerable Owen Ukafia was elected the fourth Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Uyo, by the House of Bishop of the Church of Nigeria.

On the 19^th of March 2024, then Venerable Owen Ukafia was consecrated Bishop by the Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour Ijebu Ode Ogun state.

While on the 23^rd of March 2024, Rt. Rev Owen Amos Ukafia was enthroned Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Uyo.

His episcopacy was tagged with a slogan a “New Uyo”.

The new bishop was faced with a lot of responsibilities and began work immediately.

There shall be total over-hauling of the Diocese
Continuing from Bishop Isaac Orama’s agenda
Restoring Anglican Church instrument of Administration
Restoring Diocesan Word Convention
Going back to the days of church teachers, catechist.
Appointment of Diocesan project monitoring team
Diocesan Synod to hold last week of November
Diocesan Board Meeting attendance – Constitution will be duly adhered to
Appointment of Diocesan medical team
Constitute Diocesan Education Board
Seminar/retreat for junior categories of church workers
Seminar, retreat, choir music festival for Diocesan Choir
Appointment of Diocesan Evangelism/Mission board
Introduction of Diocesan Power Night (Night of Encounter)
Initiate and build Diocesan Secretariat – Main Project
Settlement of debts owed by Diocese – retired priests, death benefits to priest bereaved family, members of the diocese
Immortalize departed episcopal fathers
More on consolidation than expansion – infrastructures in view / church planting will be slowed down – search for communities where Anglican church has existed and re-plant them.
Restore back Church of Nigeria Salary structure for priests and other workers.
Archdeacons to take charge of their Archdeaconry – organize archdeaconry board, handle internal posting of church teachers/catechists.
Diocesan Auditors to be appointed
Constitute committee to review Diocesan financial regulation.
Restore the Anglican Clergy children ministry.
There will be leave roster for all church workers – it is compulsory for workers once in a year to proceed on annual leave.
There will be workers health insurance scheme for all categories of workers.
Creation of a New Diocese from Uyo – Future Vision

These and over 30 other agenda he had written down for the vision in his episcopacy in Uyo Diocese and over 50 of this has been accomplished in a short period, though this was cut short, but it was a fulfilling episcopacy.

Death and Last Moment

According to Romans 14:8 – For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Bishop Owen Ukafia went to be with the Lord in the early hours of 16^th September 2025.

Conclusion

This testament of a young boy who rose to stardom as the first Anglican Bishop in the Church of Nigeria from Okoroete and the second in Eastern Obolo local government area and served the Lord for thirty years (30) in the ministry leaves a little wonder why he nicknamed himself “the Finger of God”.

Marcus Aurelius once said, “Close is the time when you will forget all things; and close, too, the time when all will forget you.” But then we say, “the legacies of Bishop Owen Amos Ukafia Lives on”.

Bishop Owen is survived by:

Lady Zilpah Owen Ukafia – Wife

Mr. Ikineme Amos Owen Ukafia – Son

Barr. Nsanawaji Owen Ukafia – Daughter

Mr. Pentecost Owen Ukafia – Son

Mrs. Roseline Amos Ukafia – Mother

And a host of other relatives.

Biography Of Rt. Rev Owen Amos Ukafia by Ukafia Ikineme Amos Owen