Our Founder

Elder Lazarus Anuba Onyeleonu was born on July 10th 1925 to Mr. Alaeto Onyeleonu and Mrs. Ruomara Onyeleonu of Umuonyia Village, Nkpologwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. He started his primary education at Central School, Achina in 1934 and later transferred to Ekwulobia Central School in 1937. While in School, he was a great sports person. He was involved in football and track events particularly, the 440 and 880 yard as it was then called and he excelled in all of them.

In 1942, he went to Asaba, now in Delta State, to learn a trade having lost his father earlier in 1936. In 1947 he moved back to Onitsha to open his own business. He did so well in business that by 1949 he had opened many business outlets.

Elder L. A. Onyeleonu started his Christian life as an Anglican at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Nkpologwu and when he got to Onitsha, he continued in the same faith at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Odoakpu, Onitsha, and in 1947 he was among the six persons selected to be trained as Lay Readers.

Baba Onyeleonu joined the Cherubim and Seraphim Organisation in 1948 at Aba and played prominent roles in establishing many branches in the Eastern and the Mid-Western part of Nigeria, particularly, Oguta 1, Owerri, Aba, Ibagwa in Nsukka, Umuahia, Ohafia, Port-Harcourt, Diobu (then in Akokwa Street), Orlu, Oba, Ogbunike, Nteje, Warri, Agbor, Umunede, Calabar, Nkpologwu, etc.

In 1950, Baba Onyeleonu was ordained to the rank of Aladura, Leader (1951), Senior Leader (1952), Rabbi (1953), Pastor (1954), Evangelist (1955), Apostle (1956), and Senior Apostle (1958). He was passionate in Spiritual works and instrumental to healing and deliverance of many people.

Baba Onyeleonu for many years led the Eastern elders of the Holy Order to the Annual General Conference in Lagos. He was the pioneer Chairman of Central Management Council 2 (CMC 2) comprising of all the Provinces in the East and South South Region. This position he held till 1986 when he was called up to Lagos by the late Baba Aladura G. I. M. Otubu to join him in the administration of the Church.

On the 13th of September 1986, Elder L. A. Onyeleonu was ordained Supervising Apostle General by the late Baba Aladura Dr. G. I. M. Otubu. On 4th December 1991, he was ordained Deputy Baba Aladura, the position he held till December 12, 2010 when he was unanimously appointed as the Baba Aladura and Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide by the Advisory Board after the demise of Baba Aladura Okeyemi.

SOME EVENTS DURING HIS TENURE

• Revival of the Mount Zion Youth Society
• Appointment of Young and Successful Technocrats into the Advisory Board
• 420 Plots (70 Acres) of Land for Moses Orimolade Unity Centre at Bara along Abeokuta - Shagamu Express Way.
• 120 Plots Of Land along Lagos – Ibadan Express Way.
• Advanced the course of the Church both in Nigeria and Overseas by dedicating many branches. These include: Mount of Grace Baltimore, US (North), Mount of Grace Dallas, US (South) Provinces, Mount of Transfiguration, Ikorodu, New Haven (Okpoko), Onitsha, Mount Ephraim, Yenagoa Province, Mount of Peace, Rumuogba District Headquarters Cathedral (Rumuomasi Province), Mount of Faith Oginigba, District Headquarter (Rumuomasi Province) and others.
• Instituted Annual Budget to guide Income and Expenditure Of ESOCS
• Institute the National Data Bank
• National Identity Card Project to Identify all Adults in ESOCS.
• Commissioned a Website For ESOCS and Customized Email for All Provinces And Principal Officers of the Church.
• Overhauled the Administrative Structure of the Provinces and CMCs
• Set 5 Years Term for Provincial Chairmen.
• Set Up Finance Monitoring Committees in CMCs.
• Reactivated and refurbished The ESOCS Clinic
• Commissioned King David Association to build ESOCS Hospital
• Established Mount Zion National Headquarters Management Council
• He organized The Zion Daughters Band
• He organized The Twelve Disciples Of ESOCS
• Acquisition of Lands from Governments of Imo and Edo States for ESOCS to build Cathedrals, Schools and Hospitals.
• ESOCS 90th Anniversary was celebrated.
• First Baba Aladura Football competition.
• Published Eternal Mandate: The Biography of HME Baba Aladura Elder (Dr) L. A. Onyeleonu which was launched at N. T. A. Channels 10 premises, Tejuosho, Lagos on 13th of September 2014.
• Baba Aladura L. A. Onyeleonu created the following Provinces: Isu, Rumuomasi, Ikeja, Apapa, Ojokoro, Owerri-West, Isiala-Ngwa, Isuikwuato, Ewekoro, Okigwe, Ikwerre and Belgium Special Area.
• Baba Aladura (Dr) L. A. Onyeleonu slept in the Lord on 13th May, 2017. He was laid to rest at Nkpologwu, Anambra State.