Former Aso Villa Chapel Chaplain, Rev. Dr. William Uzochukwu Okoye, Dies; Christian Community Mourns
By Passman Akpos
The Founder and General Overseer of the All Christians Fellowship Mission (ACFM), Rev. Dr. William Uzochukwu Okoye, has passed away, bringing an end to decades of ministry that impacted thousands of Christians across Nigeria.
According to an official statement issued by the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Council of ACFM, and the Okoye family, the respected cleric peacefully departed this earthly life on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
The late Rev. Dr. Okoye was widely known for his unwavering commitment to evangelism, church unity, and discipleship. He also served as Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel during the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, where he ministered to national leaders while maintaining his pastoral responsibilities.
In the statement signed by Rev. Godwin Tsee on behalf of the Board of Trustees and National Executive Council, the Mission described his passing as a “glorious home call,” saying that while the church has lost its earthly shepherd, heaven has welcomed a faithful servant who devoted his life to the service of God and humanity.
The church urged members of the All Christians Fellowship Mission and the wider Christian community to remain steadfast in faith, united in love, and fervent in prayer, expressing confidence that God would continue to uphold the ministry established by its founder.
The leadership also disclosed that consultations were ongoing with the immediate family regarding funeral and burial arrangements, adding that details would be announced through the official communication channels of the Mission.
Following the announcement, tributes poured in from former members, church leaders, and associates, many recalling the profound impact Rev. Okoye had on their spiritual journeys.
Jerome J.F. Adeyemi, who described the late cleric as his first spiritual father, said he encountered Christ under Rev. Okoye’s ministry during a crusade in Kabba in the mid-1970s when the ministry was known as Freedom in Christ Ministry.
He praised the deceased for his humility, sacrificial lifestyle, and commitment to church unity, recalling how Rev. Okoye once relinquished part of the ministry to preserve peace during a leadership dispute before later rebuilding the work.
“There is no doubt that the church has missed a great leader, but he fought a good fight of faith and finished his course. Heaven has gained one of its faithful servants,” Adeyemi said.
Another minister recounted that although he was not under Rev. Okoye’s ministry, the late cleric recognized leadership potential in him while he served as a young resident pastor in Abuja and prayed over him, an encounter he described as life-changing.
A former member who gave his testimony said he was born again in 1984 under the Fellowship of Christian Students in Kabba before joining All Christians Fellowship Mission, where the biblical foundation that sustained his Christian walk was laid.
Another tribute described Rev. Okoye as a man who “lived with purpose, loved without measure, and finished his race with honour,” adding that “Heaven gained a faithful servant while earth lost a rare soul.”
Joshua Okuta, one of the early members of the church in Abuja, recalled joining the All Christians Fellowship Mission in Maitama during the late 1980s and serving in the choir.
He said Rev. Okoye encouraged young believers, established the Word Outreach Bible Institute for theological training, and mentored countless ministers who today continue to serve across different parts of the country.
“He was humble, unassuming and highly disciplined. He remains my hero and mentor. I received my calling into ministry through this great man of God. A General indeed has gone home to rest,” Okuta said.
Rev. Dr. William Uzochukwu Okoye is remembered by many as a peacemaker, mentor, evangelist, and servant-leader whose ministry emphasized holiness, unity, sound biblical teaching, and service to humanity.
His passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigerian Christianity, while his legacy is expected to live on through the lives he transformed and the ministry he founded.
