Uwem Akpan was born in Ikot Akpan Eda in southern Nigeria; his parents were teachers.  After studying philosophy and English at Creighton and Gonzaga universities, he studied theology for three years at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 2003 and received his MFA in creative writing from the University of Michigan in 2006. In 2009, Uwem Akpan's Say You’re One of Them was selected as Oprah Winfrey's her 63rd book club pick.

In 2007, Akpan taught at a Jesuit college in Harare, Zimbabwe. Until he left Nigeria for the United States of America, he served at Christ the King Church, Ilasamaja-Lagos, Nigeria