BY JENNIFER SEKIL
Renowned missionary, Ruth Elton, widely regarded as the oldest serving missionary in Nigeria, has died at the age of 91.
Elton passed away on Saturday at the Sharon compound in Alafia Bamin Quarters, Ilesa, Osun State.
Her remains have since been deposited in the mortuary.
Born on September 7, 1933, Ruth Elton was the only daughter of the late Sydney Granville Elton, fondly called, Pa Elton, one of the foremost pioneers of Pentecostal Christianity in Nigeria.
She arrived in the country with her parents in 1937 and dedicated her entire life to missionary and community service across Kogi, Ondo, Oyo and Osun States.
In the 1970s, she renounced her British citizenship and naturalised as a Nigerian, a decision that deepened her bond with the communities she served.
Elton became fluent in Yoruba and Ebira and earned wide recognition for her grassroots health campaigns, particularly in Okene, Kogi State, where her initiatives helped reduce infant mortality.
Until her passing, she was celebrated for her lifelong commitment to faith, humanitarian service and local development.
Elton, who never married, is remembered for her quiet but profound impact on generations of Nigerians.
