Dad's Life and Legacy

Elizabeth Onilude-David
Feb 16, 2025
9 min read

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Pa David Olusegun Onilude

Dad started out the most flawed of fathers. He was a man broken in many ways by his lot in life. His later life and legacy however, is a testimony and a trophy of God's grace.

Born into a polygamous family of a wealthy village man. He was the only son of his loved and favoured mother. From the start, he was a threat to the status quo in a feuding community.

His father, in the prime of life and success, suddenly passed away. And so my dad was given to be raised by another member of the family. His mother had no say in the matter, and in fact, she did not see him again for some years.

And so Dad who was born into wealth and love, became the lost, the last and the least. He became an orphan and was treated as such.

But, my dad had an indestructible streak in him... God-given.

My dad loved books. So every opportunity he had as a child, despite his ugly set of circumstances, he would spend at the village library, reading. He would read anything he could get his hands on about the world and far away lands. He just would lose himself in the big world of books. He found a world so wonderful and alien to where he was.

Those early years of reading created a thirst for life and living in Dad. He knew from all the wonderful books he read in his village library that there was more to life. Life was big, life was wonderful, and life was worth living.

The library officials being English missionaries took a liking to him. Due to his curious and gentle nature they would answer his questions and give him books that would help him develop his mind and intellect – Thank God for Missionaries!

When Dad finished school, he got his first job in the library! What joy!

So, he taught himself how to use a typewriter. That became my dad’s hallmark. A typewriter! He loved typing. And that love took him eventually into journalism.

The first time Dad finally left his village at a considerable age, he left for England, UK. The missionaries having mentored dad over the years and realising he had an amazing thist for learning, decided to write to Mr Williams (not his name) at the BBC about Dad.

And so Dad arrived and dutifully took the little note, after buying the essential coat, hat and umbrella, and went looking for Mr Williams at the Strand. They met at a restaurant near the BBC offices in London and the rest they say is history.

Dad started as a junior copytaker, learning and growing in his love for reading and writing. He loved journalism. Writing especially. And, telling stories. My dad was the most amazing storyteller. And, he was hilarious. He found something funny in every situation.

That was my Dad's strength. He always found a silver lining in every cloud. God endowed him with such an indestructible spirit.

He stayed at the BBC and later went on to work for Reuters.

Dad later married his childhood love, my phenomenal Mum.

We were born and life was swinging. Until the decadence of the 1960s kicked in. They were not Christians and life in London in that era was not kind or ethical for the simple-hearted Africans that had emigrated and settled.

Things got complicated and then fell apart.

Dad left and went back to Nigeria. Mum returned later and took us with her. I was five years old.

So, I did not really grow up with my Dad, though we spent the summer holidays with him. However, I was always quite close to him.

My dad always told this funny story about when I was little:

Whenever I was coming home from work when 'Tayo was little, I loved to bring a gift like a piece of fruit or sweets because when I would present it to her, she would burst into such spills of laughter, joy and gratitude. It was so memorable.

So when Mum insisted I stay at Dad's who lived not too far from my university campus, I did not mind too much, as she point blank refused to continue to pay the bills for my halls.

And, that decision proved to be one of the most significant I ever made.

I had just become a Christian and was zealous about attending all the various meetings including an all-night prayer time every Friday. My dad did not mind very much what I did as long as it did not disturb his schedule.

One memorable day however, it came to a head when I responded to one of his sudden anger outbursts by praying quietly under my breath. He simply lost it and went on let me know how he found it disrespectful, offensive and unacceptable.

I was used to his disposition and outbursts but this time something went off in me. And so, though I went pottering about the house, I found myself unconsciously confronting the only person who would know any better about Dad’s unexplainable rage, realising for the first time that it was not normal behaviour. I asked God.

My questions went something like:

Why is he so explosively angry all the time? What is wrong with him? Whatever happened to him? Why would a person behave in such a way? Why God!? What God!?...

As I stood doing dishes in front of a large window, contending and questioning in my heart, suddenly heaven opened it seemed, and the African sun in all its glory burst forth. Light like I had never seen flooded my heart. And for the first time, I felt God's heart for Dad. It felt like warm liquid gold. The only way I can describe it.

It so overwhelmed me, I stooped and just cried. God sees my dad and knows him. He knows the little orphan boy and loves him dearly.

My life changed forever. And so did Dad’s.

Praying for dad became a project. My Friday all-night prayer times became the place to spend quality time praying for him. I must have prayed like I had never prayed in my life.

I can't remember how long it took, months and months, but one day I came home to find a man sitting with my Dad in the living room, so I busied myself again, but could hear everything being said.

(NB: I tend to reflect deeply, pray and listen while actively doing other things; like walking, driving, or busy about the house).

The stranger had had a dream some weeks before, he said:

In the dream, he had seen the face of a man and God had showed him that he would need to talk him - it was my dad. And, He would show him where to find him.

A few weeks later, he was taking his evening stroll in the area, when God showed him my dad's house, and told him to knock on the door. He did and Dad opened the door.

The man went on to tell dad about his Christian journey, and asked him if he would become a Christian.

The rest they say is history. It was the year1988.

My dad’s life and lifestyle changed drastically. He stopped smoking and drinking, and his life choices and disposition became more outward-focused and life-affirming. He found a church nearby and started attending, then he started helping out and serving others.

He was later introduced to Bishop David Oyedepo's ministry, called Winners Chapel. In 1998 the congregation started the process of moving to a new location in Ota, Ogun State. The Bishop had bought land in the forest in Ota, and they were about to break ground.

Dad loved Winners Chapel so much that he decided to go and also scout the forest of Ota and buy land for himself to build a home and a law chamber in order to be closer to the church.

By that time, Dad had retired as Board Secretary and Legal Adviser to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ), and had just completed a law degree at the University of Lagos to start a second career.

And so with time, he retired to his new home and set up Praise Chambers in Ota, close to the church. He became the town's property and probate lawyer. The other landowners came to get their wills written and their estates put in order.

Dad was in his element. His love for law and land were inseparable.

He enjoyed the concept of starting something from scratch. It was a challenge he relished. So, he would buy land and build a house, after a while, he would get bored, sell it and start again at a new location. The good thing was the houses got a bit better each time. He just loved the adventure of planning and building something new. We would watch in amusement, listen to his plans in amazement, and nod in agreement... Perplexed!

So, law and property were the perfect combination, and the dream job. And, Winners Chapel (which had suddenly become a global mega-church) was only a short drive away from his new home.

Everything was as it should be.

Dad came to the UK often. He loved to come and spend time with his children and grandchildren. He would do the rounds and share his time with each family in West London, Essex, Cheshire, Hampshire, and Woodford.

On Christmas Day of 2019, he turned 80, and we gathered at my brother's and his wife's home in Cheshire. The most memorable Christmas.

All of Dad and Mum's children and many grandchildren were present to celebrate the incredible milestone with him and each other. He was wearing his favourite colour, sky blue. It was simple joy!

When Dad visits, he stays in London for the most part. He would take long walks or just stay in his room reading books on various topics he would get from the local library. He loved to explore and rediscover the London he knew in the 1960s and would often stop at a good Fish and Chips shop he found along the way.

At dinner time in the evenings, he would tell stories and we would all have a good laugh at life.

Life is short, and every moment is precious - Gad Saad

Life is short, and if we enjoy every moment of every day, then we will be happy no matter what happens or what changes along the way - Gretchen Bleiler

Dad went back to Nigeria in January 2020, after the celebrations.

He had a minor accident later and went to the hospital for treatment. It was during COVID-19, and not knowing he was diabetic was given a dose of anaesthetics. His body went into shock.

Dad's body could not cope...

Life is brief and time is short. How we use our lifetime is what counts for legacy and for eternity.

Dad was promoted to heaven on the 7th of the 7th 2020 at the age of 80.

Our greatest solace was the quality time we had spent laughing with him just months before. Also, that he loved God and served Him with everything he had. He seemed to be making up for lost time, and he did it with great zeal and great joy.

Dad loved life. He is now enjoying it in stellar quality and greater quantity.

Below is a summary of his Remembrance Service Bio:

Elder Barrister David Olusegun Onilude, aged 80 years old of 39 Olanrewaju Oshunfowora Street, Fashogon Estate, Ota, Ogun State passed to glory of cardio-respiratory failure on Tuesday 7th July 2020 in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Elder Onilude was born on the 25th of December (Christmas Day) of 1939 in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria.

He moved to the United Kingdom in 1964 and accepted a position as a copy-taker at BCC, Broadcasting House in London where he worked until his return to Nigeria in 1972. He then worked at the then Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN before he moved to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). At NAN, he covered many international events such as the OPEC conferences as a young Nigerian reporter and correspondent.

He later obtained a Law Degree from the University of Lagos while he worked at NAN. Elder Onilude retired from NAN as Chief Editor and Legal Advisor to the Board of Directors in 1990.

After retirement he spent the rest of his life practising law, specializing in Property Law and Probate Law.

Elder Onilude was a great family man and a loving father to his children and grandchildren. In his later years (1988), he became a committed Christian and dedicated most of his time, energy and resources to the Christian ministry.

Elder Onilude was a founding member of Winners Chapel (Faith Tabernacle) in Ota, Ogun State. He relocated his home to Ota when Winners Chapel broke ground for the building of Faith Tabernacle. He was committed and dedicated to Winners Chapel and active in various roles. He was later appointed an Elder and served faithfully hosting various church gatherings in his home for the rest of his life.

He enjoyed visiting his children and grandchildren in the United Kingdom and telling stories of his many adventures as a youth and as a journalist in his early career.

His family, friends and church members will always remember him as a generous, jovial and studious person.

A remembrance service is scheduled for October at Winners Chapel, Ota, Ogun State with a reception to follow. The Pastors at Winners Chapel will officiate.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions (2020), a limited number of people will be able to attend the service to celebrate Elder Onilude's life. Please check with the family before travelling.

Elder Onilude had many grandchildren and nine children, namely:

· Ms Deborah

· Ms Elizabeth

· Mrs Bethia

· Mr Emmanuel

· Mr Paul

· Mrs Omotola

· Mrs Faith

· Mrs Ore-Oluwa

· Mr Stephen