The Life and Times of Ruth Elton, missionary who gave up British citizenship for Nigeria

Ruth Elton was a British-born missionary who spent nearly nine decades in Nigeria. Fondly called Mama Elton, she was the daughter of Sydney Granville and Hannah Elton, pioneers of the Pentecostal revival in Nigeria.

On Saturday in Ilesa, Osun State, was the quiet passing of this woman who gave up her British citizenship to embrace Nigeria. She was, in her own right, a symbol of faith, sacrifice and undiluted love for a nation that became her only home.

Born on September 7, 1933, in the United Kingdom, Ruth was only three years old when she arrived in Nigeria with her mother to join her father, Pa Elton, in Ilesa, Osun State, where he had been posted as Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church of Nigeria under the leadership of Joseph Ayo Babalola. What began as her father’s missionary assignment soon became the story of her life.

While her father’s work helped shape the roots of Pentecostalism in Nigeria by laying a foundation that still thrives decades after his passing in 1987, Ruth chose to walk a similar but deeply personal path. She accompanied her parents on their mission field and took it up as her lifelong calling. Her mission field stretched far and wide: Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, Ondo, Oyo, Osun…Ruth dedicated her life to teaching, healing, and spreading the gospel.

Unlike many missionaries who returned to their homelands after their work, Ruth made a radical decision in 1975; she renounced her British citizenship and naturalised as a Nigerian. At the time, dual citizenship was not allowed. For her, the choice was simple: “Nigeria is my home, and my life is here.” She remained true to those words until her passing and never looked back.

Ruth was instrumental in reducing infant mortality in Kogi State by challenging harmful practices such as force-feeding and poor childcare habits. With her background in handwork and training from a technical college in the UK, she also taught sewing, arts, and crafts to women, leaving behind both spiritual footprints and practical skills that improved livelihoods.

Fluent in Yoruba and Ebira, in addition to English, Ruth was a bridge between cultures. She never married or sought fame; instead poured her life into missions, writing books. Over the years, she authored three Christian books: The Gospel of the Kingdom, Your Citizenship: Hell or the Kingdom?, and The Kingdom Has Come… works that continue to inspire believers across the globe

Even in her old age, Ruth held firm to her father’s prophecy that Nigeria, though scarred by corruption, would one day be known globally for righteousness and prosperity.

Ruth Elton passed away peacefully at 91, at the Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters, Ilesa, Osun State. Today, her body rests in Ilesa, where her parents are also buried.

When news of her death spread on August 30, 2025, tributes poured in. To many, Mama Elton was a missionary, a mother and a teacher. Her choice to stand with Nigeria, even in turbulent times, further proves her faith in the country.