“With this project, my annual conferences will finally have a suitable home, besides the number of jobs we expect to create with this alone”
2nd September marks the ground-breaking ceremony for a $250 million multi-purpose auditorium that would seat 120, 000 guest in Ohafia Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State. The auditorium located in Isiugwu Ohafia is the brainchild of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association and facilitated by the Uhuru Group Ltd
The CEO, Uhuru Group, Mr. Emeka Mmaju thanking supporters and organisers of the ground breaking ceremony said; “This is a long-time dream come true, to be associated with the great works and achievement of the veteran servant of God and witnessing this happens in his own community can only be attributed as a blessing from God Almighty.
The Proposed edifice designed in the frame of an indoor stadium, is projected to be the largest auditorium for public service and church activities in the Africa.
The auditorium would be built within the proposed ‘Uma Ukpai Prayer City,’ according to the Abuja based project architects, Devinci Consulting.
The designers confirmed that the project would be completed in 36 months taking into account what they termed ‘foreign logistics and will provide direct and indirect employment thousands of youths in the community whom will be engaged in one or other activities in the process of the construction.
Besides being a preacher, Rev. Uma Ukpai has built several public institutions in Nigeria and Ghana including the Uma Ukpai Polytechnic, the Uma Ukpai Hospital and Clinic located in Asaga Ohafia. The Uma Ukpai Prayer City will be his largest single project.
The architects stated that it would host not only the church auditorium but also event centres, meeting rooms, a clinic, three helipads, a petrol station, a hotel, offices and diverse parking lots.
In a statement made available to journalists, Ukpai forecasts that this project alone will generate hundreds of jobs and create a medium sized local economy in Ohafia.
In their explanation: “With this project, my annual conferences will finally have a suitable home, besides the number of jobs we expect to create with this alone. The Ground Breaking Ceremony was well attended by members of the intelligentsia, the political class and business people.
According to Ukpai, 15 hectares of land have already been acquired for this project and a Contract for the construction has been awarded to the duo of Uhuru Global Construction Company as facilitator of the project and Habitat Universal Concept as the contractor.
