From the pulpit to the communal dining table, the outspoken Catholic priest is preaching unity, supporting the vulnerable and inspiring his people to rediscover their humanity, writes Denen Achussah.
Some priests preach the Gospel from the pulpit. Others take it to the streets, the homes of the poor, the camps of displaced persons and, occasionally, to a communal dining table where strangers become friends over a bowl of soup.
Rev. Fr. Solomon Mfa Ukeyima belongs to that interesting category of priests who understand that the Gospel must not only be heard; it must also be seen, touched, tasted and experienced.
At 50, the Catholic priest of the Diocese of Makurdi has built a ministry that extends beyond the altar, blending spirituality with humanitarian service, cultural revival, agricultural advocacy and an uncommon willingness to speak his mind.
Affectionately known as Tor Kyegh Sha Shwa (Tor KSS), Fr. Ukeyima believes that a divided people can rediscover their common humanity through simple but meaningful acts of togetherness. Sometimes, his preferred instrument of reconciliation is a pot of sesame soup served with pounded yam.
In 2015, while serving at St. Francis Catholic Mission, Daudu, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, he initiated the Kyegh Sha Shwa Cultural Festival to revive Tiv cultural values and promote unity beyond political and social differences.
What began as a celebration of a cherished Tiv delicacy has grown into a platform bringing together traditional rulers, professionals, entrepreneurs, young people and cultural enthusiasts from different backgrounds.
For Fr. Ukeyima, KSS is more than food. It is a statement about a people who must not allow political disagreements to destroy their bonds of kinship.
By bringing people together around a common dish, he has turned hospitality into cultural diplomacy and a meal into an instrument of reconciliation. The festival celebrates Tiv music, dance, traditional attire and cuisine while creating opportunities for networking, cultural education and business promotion.
The late Tiv leader, Wantaregh Paul Unongo, encouraged him to sustain the initiative as a vehicle for cultural revival. The 2019 edition in Gboko attracted thousands of participants, further establishing the festival’s growing appeal.
His message remains straightforward: Tiv people may belong to different political camps, but they must not forget that they belong to one another.
A heart for the vulnerable
Beyond the colourful festival lies a priest whose commitment to humanitarian service is informed, in part, by personal experience.
Fr. Ukeyima has been displaced three times by attacks attributed to armed herdsmen. Having experienced the pain of displacement himself, he understands that insecurity is not merely a statistic. It is a human tragedy that uproots families, destroys livelihoods and leaves vulnerable people struggling to survive.
His concern for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State has found expression in advocacy, awareness creation and efforts to mobilise food and non-food assistance.
Fr. Ukeyima’s compassion also extends to elderly Christian women and widows. Through Ungoov Mba-Dedoo, an association of elderly Christian women, he provides material and spiritual support to members who might otherwise be neglected. Through the Mater Dei Widows association, he supports widows and promotes self-reliance by encouraging livelihood skills and economic empowerment.
These interventions reflect his understanding that Christian charity must go beyond comforting words. It must help people regain dignity, confidence and the capacity to support themselves.
His philosophy is captured in a memorable statement: “Life must be a WINDOW through which you see others. Not only a MIRROR through which you see yourself.”
It is a fitting description of a priest whose interests extend beyond his personal comfort to the welfare of people facing hardship.
From the pulpit to the farm
Fr. Ukeyima’s commitment to the well-being of his people also finds expression in agriculture.
Through his Tomsule Doo Pati (TDP), he has consistently advocated a return to the farm, encouraging young people to embrace the cultivation of grains, roots, tubers and fruits as a pathway to self-reliance and economic prosperity.
His advocacy is backed by practical action. For years, he has donated cassava stems free of charge to encourage cultivation and help people take their first steps towards agricultural production.
The priest’s message to young people is captured in a memorable admonition: “Dirty hands on the farm oil the mouth in the evening.”
The message is particularly relevant in Benue, where agriculture remains central to livelihoods and the state’s identity as Nigeria’s food basket.
For a state grappling with economic hardship and rising food costs, encouraging young people to produce food is more than motivational preaching. It is a contribution to food security, employment and community resilience.
There is also a connection between this initiative and his humanitarian work. While feeding the hungry provides immediate relief, encouraging people to farm creates opportunities for more sustainable livelihoods.
Through TDP, the priest is urging his people not merely to wait for assistance but to work the land, produce food and take greater responsibility for their economic well-being.
The priest who speaks his mind
Fr. Ukeyima is forthright, outspoken and unafraid to express his convictions. He is admired by many and sometimes openly disliked by those who find his words uncomfortable.
His disposition has made him a distinctive public figure in a society where speaking plainly can attract criticism, even when silence might be the easier option.
His book, Hard Facts, offers another glimpse into a personality inclined towards confronting realities rather than concealing them behind convenient language.
Fr. Ukeyima’s admirers see courage in his readiness to speak his mind, while his critics may disagree with his approach. Such reactions are part of the reality of a public life that ventures beyond comfortable religious routine into cultural, social and community affairs.
His public engagement reflects a conviction that faith should not be isolated from the realities confronting society. The Gospel offers comfort, but it also challenges individuals and communities to examine their conduct.
Forging strength from scars
One of Fr. Ukeyima’s most striking reflections around his golden jubilee concerns the scars he bears from life’s struggles.
“I have scars on my body, but I have come to forgive all who caused them because no mosquito bites me where I have scars. What hurt me now is my protection from pain and malaria fever,” he said.
The statement offers a glimpse into his understanding of suffering, forgiveness and resilience.
For someone who has experienced displacement and the difficulties associated with standing by vulnerable people, the metaphor carries particular significance.
The scars represent painful experiences, but he chooses to see them as reminders of survival rather than reasons for bitterness.
Forgiveness does not erase injustice. Rather, it offers a way of moving forward without allowing past injuries to dictate the future.
His words also suggest an understanding that a life of service will not always attract appreciation. Some will misunderstand one’s intentions; others will oppose one’s convictions.
Yet the work of service must continue.
A life devoted to service
Born on July 15, 1976, to Pa Dennis and Mama Nyiepine Ukeyima of Kwande Local Government Area (LGA), Fr. Ukeyima began his journey towards the priesthood through the Catholic seminary system.
His formation took him through St. James’ Minor Seminary, Aliade; the preparatory seminary in Okpoga; St. Thomas Aquinas’ Major Seminary, Makurdi; and St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, where he studied theology.
He was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi in 2004 and has served in several pastoral assignments, including St. Michael’s Parish, Jato Aka; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makurdi; Sacred Heart’s Parish, Udei; St. Francis Catholic Mission, Daudu; and St. Augustine’s Parish, Demekpe.
He is currently the Parish Priest of St. Mark’s, Apir, Dean of Ikpayongo Deanery and Chairman of the Se Sugh Maria Pilgrimage Centre, Ayati.
His journey through these assignments has been accompanied by activities that reach beyond the formal boundaries of parish ministry.
Whether promoting Tiv cultural unity through KSS, supporting widows and elderly women, advocating for displaced families or encouraging young people to embrace farming, he continues to explore practical ways of translating faith into service.
At 50, the work continues
Although Fr. Ukeyima turned 50 on July 15, 2026, he chose October 18 for the celebration and Thanksgiving at St. Mark’s Apir.
The golden jubilee offers an opportunity to reflect on a life whose public significance lies not merely in priestly service but also in the relationships, initiatives and humanitarian concerns it has nurtured.
There is a particularly telling detail about the celebration: Funds raised for the occasion are to be channelled towards roofing the church building at St. Mark’s Mission, Apir.
It is a gesture consistent with his philosophy that personal milestones can become opportunities to meet collective needs.
Rather than making the celebration solely about himself, he has directed attention towards a project that will benefit the worshipping community.
At 50, his work remains unfinished. There are vulnerable people to support, cultural bonds to strengthen, young people to encourage and communities to remind that their shared humanity is more enduring than their political differences.
His legacy will ultimately be measured not by the number of people who gather to celebrate him, but by the lives touched, the opportunities created and the bonds strengthened through his ministry.
In a divided society, unity is often proclaimed in grand speeches. Fr. Ukeyima has chosen a more practical approach: Bringing people together, encouraging them to listen to one another and giving them a reason to share a common table.
Through KSS, he serves unity with pounded yam and sesame soup. Through his humanitarian initiatives, he offers support to people facing hardship. Through TDP, he encourages his people to return to the farm and build more secure livelihoods.
And through his outspoken engagement with society, he reminds people that service sometimes requires the courage to challenge prevailing attitudes.
At 50, Tor KSS has reasons to celebrate, but he also has more work to do.
As another communal gathering beckons, strangers will meet, old friends will reconnect, and people with different political loyalties will find themselves sharing the same meal.
Perhaps that is where the essence of Fr. Ukeyima’s ministry is most clearly expressed: In the belief that people can disagree without becoming enemies, that compassion must be translated into action, and that faith becomes more meaningful when it improves the lives of others.
For him, the Gospel is not merely something to be preached from the pulpit. It is something to be practised in the community, shared with the vulnerable and, when necessary, served hot.
Aôndo A ver Tor! May the years ahead bring renewed strength to your ministry, deeper compassion to your service and greater opportunities to unite your people—one act of kindness, one honest word and one communal meal at a time.
