British-born Nigerian missionary Ruth Elton, widely regarded as one of the oldest missionaries in the country, has passed away at the age of 91.
Born on 7 September 1933, Elton dedicated her life to faith, healing, and revival, leaving a lasting impact on communities across western and central Nigeria. SaharaReporters gathered that she died on Saturday at Sharon Compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State.
She was the only daughter of Sydney Granville Elton, popularly known as Pa Elton, one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. Her remains have been deposited at the mortuary.
In her lifetime, Elton fully embraced Nigeria, renouncing her British citizenship in the 1970s after securing naturalisation through a Kaduna court. She moved with her parents to Nigeria in 1937 and served tirelessly as a missionary in Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and across Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States.
Fluent in Ebira and Yoruba, Elton never married but devoted herself to ministry and humanitarian service. She particularly prided herself on helping to reduce infant mortality in Okene, Kogi State, where she raised awareness about hygiene and discouraged harmful practices such as force-feeding babies.
Despite Nigeria’s challenges, Elton continued to uphold her father’s prophecies, affirming that although the country might be associated with corruption for a time, it would eventually emerge as a nation recognised globally for righteousness and prosperity.
About The Author
