On a brisk Sunday morning at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Edinburgh Tabernacle, United Kingdom, Omowunmi Esther Oyeleke’s voice fills the room—steady, soulful, and stirring—as though threading a connection between Nigeria and Scotland.

For over 20 years, this gospel singer has poured her heart into music ministry, beginning from the choir stalls of Surulere, Lagos, to leading worship across borders. Hers is a story of faith, family, and a calling that has taken her far yet kept her close to her roots.

Her love for music sparked early. “Growing up was full of fun,” she recalled. “My family was always singing. My mum spotted my talent and got me into the choir fast.” At home in Surulere, radios played gospel hits, CDs piled up, and Omowunmi pored over songbooks, copying lyrics by hand.

She became a familiar voice leading choral groups throughout her primary and secondary school years—humming on the playground, singing in class, and everywhere in between. That passion found a lasting home when she joined the RCCG choir. “I was just a kid among adults,” she laughed. “They’d tease me—‘Who’s this tiny girl?’—but when I sang, they’d say, ‘That’s a big voice!’” Both her mum and choir master saw her potential early. “They believed in me,” she says. “They pushed me to take on the hard parts, even as a teenager.”

Though those days were tough, with endless rehearsals and strict routines, they shaped her. “We had concerts every few months, plus Sunday services and special programs,” she said. “Rehearsals never stopped. And the uniform—white and black—was a must. Every chorister had those colors ready.”

Looking back now, she smiles. The grind wasn’t just routine—it was her foundation. She met singers from different towns, swapped notes, and sharpened her craft. “All that work made me who I am,” she said.

By her 20s, Omowunmi was leading praise teams in Nigeria. “For me, the congregation was everything. I didn’t want it to feel like a show because church isn’t a theatre,” she explained. “I wanted lives touched and hearts healed.” And often, they were. “That’s what drove me to put my soul into music,” she said.

She made sure to rehearse hard with her backup singers and instrumentalists, ensuring everyone was aligned. “I’d get us ready,” she said, “then step back and let God work. I’m just the vessel.” Her focus was never on applause or standing ovations—it was on impact.

Her first song, Sufficient Grace, marked a turning point. “It started at a teen praise session,” she remembered. “I was leading, and it didn’t even have a verse. I made one up right there at rehearsal, scribbling it down fast so I wouldn’t forget. No phone to record—just me singing it over and over.” When the song caught on and began spreading through churches, she realized her purpose. “It was wild,” she stated. “People knew my song before they knew me.”

In 2022, she relocated to Edinburgh with her husband. Adjusting, surprisingly, wasn’t hard. “The RCCG here felt like home—just extended,” she said. “The worship style was different, but it was all to one God. I blended in.” She learned new ways of working with singers from diverse backgrounds. “I had to unlearn some things and pick up new ones,” she admitted. “But I’d suggest ideas too—ways to make it special for everyone.” Her knack for innovation has kept her music fresh.

Now, she’s eyeing a new project. “I’ve got songs from Nigeria and some I wrote here,” she said. “I want to release a single soon—something that catches fire before I do a full album. Maybe a live concert next year, once I’m settled.” She’s connected with talented people in the UK and hopes to collaborate. “They can help make it real,” she said.

Worship still fuels her. “It’s how I reach God,” she says. “My first real moment with Him was through worship. I won’t trade that for anything. It’s what I was made for.” To her, music is a lifeline. “It lifts people when they’re down,” she said. “Not everyone picks the gospel, but I want mine to change them. I preach the word through song—that’s my aim.”

She has also seen how much the church has evolved since her born-again days. “People might skip sermons,” she said, “but they’ll hear it in music.”

Now with a newborn at home, life is busier. “It’s exciting,” she says. “Balance is tricky—I manage it with my husband’s help.” She continues to juggle diapers and rehearsals, feeding bottles and microphones, refusing to let her calling falter because too many people count on her. “I will always show up,” she says firmly. “For God, my family, my church, and myself.”

Reflecting on her path, she sees divine threads. “My movements from Surulere to Edinburgh are all God’s plan,” she said. “Every step, every person, every song—it’s no mistake. I’m grateful for it.”

And at the RCCG Edinburgh Tabernacle, she’s already fulfilling that purpose. Every Sunday, her voice fills the room—and people’s hearts—with salvation, healing, peace, and love.