Ruth Elton, a British-born missionary who became a naturalised Nigerian and devoted her life to evangelism and community service, has died at the age of 91.
Elton passed away on Saturday at Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State, local media reported. Her remains have been placed in a mortuary.
Born on September 7, 1933, Elton was the only daughter of Sydney Granville “Pa” Elton, widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. She moved to the country with her parents in 1937 and went on to work as a missionary across several states, including Kogi, Ondo, Oyo and Osun.
Elton renounced her British citizenship in the 1970s, becoming a Nigerian citizen through a court process in Kaduna. She spoke fluent Ebira and Yoruba and was known for her grassroots work in faith healing, revival movements and healthcare.
In Okene, Kogi State, she championed efforts to reduce infant mortality, warning against poor hygiene and traditional practices such as force-feeding babies. She described those interventions as a lasting contribution to the communities she served.
Unmarried throughout her life, Elton often recalled her father’s prophecies about Nigeria, saying he foresaw that the country’s global reputation for corruption would eventually give way to one of righteousness and prosperity.
