Pastor Ubi Onen: A Rare Gem in Ministry, Administration, and Leadership

Pastor Ubi Eno Onen was born on the 13th of May, 1985 to the family of Elder & Mrs. Matthew Onen of Lekpankom, Ikpakapit, Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State. He is the seventh child of nine children. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar, and he is at the verge of defending his Master of Arts (M.A) thesis from the same university. While at the university of Calabar, the charismatic Ubi Onen had a stint in leadership at different levels. For two sessions, in the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 sessions, he represented the Faculty of Arts students in the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Parliament. Between 2006-2007 he served as the Sergeant-at-Arms of the SUG Parliament. In 2007 he emerged from a keenly contested election to become the President of the Faculty of Arts Students Association (FASA). While serving as president, he pioneered the Faculty of Arts Christian Fellowship in 2007 that brought together both staff and students of the faculty for solemn assemblies. Pastor Onen has remained a rallying point and an inspirational force to young people who aspire for positions of leadership. He has mentored several and is still mentoring young people. During his National Youth Service year, he served as the Secretary of the Redeemed Christian Corpers Fellowship in Ado-Ekiti in 2009.

Two years after completing his National Youth Service in Ekiti State, Pastor Onen took up employment with the university of Calabar as the Editor-In-Chief of the University of Calabar Press between 2012-2014.This assignment he discharged creditably well, before he was redeployed to head a unit in the Bursar’s office, and later redeployed as Head of Administration in the Bursary department of the university of Calabar, where he works till date. Pastor Onen also served as the Editor-at-Large of Profiles and Biographies – a biographical and Public Relations firm in Cross River state. He at some point also deployed his editorial skills at the Partnerships Opportunities for Women Empowerment (POWER) as consulting Editor.

Pastor Onen is a member of some professional bodies among whom are: the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria (ISMN), the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals (NISP) etc. In 2017, during the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the creation of Cross River State, Pastor Onen was listed as one of the 50 Young People to Watch as Future Leaders in Cross River State. In 2019, Pastor Ubi Onen was honourably listed in Contemporary Who’s Who compendium in Cross River State as an eminent Cross Riverian who has distinguished himself in his career, and also in acknowledgement of his contributions to the development of the society. In 2021, Pastor Ubi Onen was honourably listed in a compendium Yatumanen Ba Kekur, translated as Eminent Leaders of Yakurr – the Local Government Area where he hails from, as an eminent son of the Local Government Area who has distinguished himself in his career and ministry as an outstanding clergyman. He is a recipient of several awards and recognitions from different youth organizations.

Pastor Onen is an ordained minister of God in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He was consecrated and appointed an Assistant Parish Pastor in RCCG New Covenant Assembly Area, one of the Area headquarter parish in Calabar in 2012. He served in this capacity from 2012-2014. From 2014-2022, he pastored one of the largest parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Cross River state as the Pastor-in-charge of Parish. RCCG Jesus Sanctuary located at 34 Atekong Drive, State Housing Estate, Calabar with a congregation of over 800 members in a single service, and it serves as the Provincial Headquarter parish of Cross River Province 2. Presently, Pastor Onen pastors One of the Area Headquarter parish of the Redeemed Christian church of God, (Life Sanctuary Area), located at N0 7 Etta Agbor Layout in the city of Calabar. A parish that has five other parishes under it. Since his assumption of duty at Life Sanctuary, several lives and souls have been transformed to the glory of God. The church hall is now too small for the surging number of parishioners who now troop in there. Pastor Onen is a spiritual father to many, both old and young, an aggressive church planter, a counsellor, a professional administrator, a seasoned preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a trendy pastor admired by many.

Pastor Ubi Onen will be celebrating the 11th anniversary of his marriage to his amazing wife- Mrs Margaret Ubi Onen (PhD) later this year. The marriage is blessed with three amazing children; a daughter and two boys. How this dynamic 38 years old trailblazer combines his circular job with ministry and yet administers these layers of responsibility almost effortlessly is a story for another day.With his like, the future of young people in Nigeria and Africa, and indeed the church in terms of
leadership is far from bleak.