Mildred Kingsley-Okonkwo (born Mildred Isioma Chijide) is a Nigerian pastor, author, and relationship coach who serves as Associate Senior Pastor of David Christian Centre (DCC) in Lagos, alongside her husband, Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo.
Known affectionately to her congregation as “PM,” she has built a public ministry centered on women, marriage, and infertility, founding the Just Us Girls Global Network and speaking openly about her own journey through polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to help other women feel less alone in similar struggles.
At a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mildred Isioma Kingsley-Okonkwo (née Chijide) |
| Born | September 26 (year commonly cited as 1978, unconfirmed) |
| Birthplace | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Spouse | Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo (m. September 2005) |
| Children | Three (Dassah, Davida, and David), with a fourth child announced in January 2026 |
| Parents | Michael Chijide (banker) and Patricia Chijide (teacher) |
| Education | |
| Secondary school | Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos |
| University | Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and University of Lagos (UNILAG), English Arts |
| Postgraduate | Second degree in International Law and Diplomacy, OAU |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Associate Senior Pastor |
| Church | David Christian Centre (DCC), Lagos, Nigeria |
| Denomination | Non-denominational (Charismatic Christian) |
| Organization founded | Just Us Girls Global Network |
| Career | |
| Occupation | Pastor, author, relationship coach, certified infidelity recovery specialist |
| Prior career | Television media and customer service |
Early Life and Education
Mildred Isioma Chijide was born on September 26 in Lagos, Nigeria, the fifth of six children born to Michael and Patricia Chijide.
Her father worked as a banker and her mother as a teacher, both in Lagos, and both remain actively involved in their grandchildren’s lives today.
Her parents placed a strong emphasis on education. She attended Corona School in Apapa for her nursery and primary years, then Command Secondary School in Ipaja, Lagos, for secondary school.
She went on to earn a first degree in English Arts, splitting her studies between Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and later returned to OAU for a second degree in International Law and Diplomacy.
Before ministry became her full-time calling, Mildred worked in television media and briefly in customer service.
She’s described encountering Jesus as a teenage girl, an experience she’s said she never fully recovered from in the years since, in the best possible sense.
Marriage and Ministry Partnership
Mildred married Kingsley Okonkwo, whom she calls her best friend, in September 2005. Kingsley had already founded what would become David Christian Centre nearly a decade earlier, in 1996, starting it as a youth fellowship in Lagos before it grew into one of the city’s well-known congregations, now running multiple campuses including locations on Mile 2 and Elegushi Road.
Their marriage became a public part of their shared ministry almost immediately. Kingsley had started a group called the Love, Dating & Sex Fellowship in 1999, which was renamed Love, Dating & Marriage (LDM) following their wedding.
Mildred became Associate Pastor of DCC and co-lead of LDM alongside him, turning what began as Kingsley’s individual outreach into a joint ministry built around both of their voices.
PCOS, Infertility, and Public Advocacy
Mildred was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a young woman, a condition that can affect fertility.
She’s spoken about this diagnosis publicly over the years, using her own experience to connect with women in her congregation and beyond who face similar struggles silently.
Kingsley has often repeated a line from before their wedding, telling her plainly that he was marrying her out of love, not for the possibility of children, a statement that’s stuck with their audience through the years as a marker of how they’ve approached the topic together.
The couple went on to have three children, a daughter named Dassah, a daughter named Davida, and a son named David, with some accounts noting one of their children joined the family through adoption.
In January 2026, Mildred publicly confirmed she was expecting their fourth child, sharing the news as a joyful surprise to start the new year.
Just Us Girls and Ministry to Women
Mildred founded the Just Us Girls Global Network, an organization built specifically around ministering to women, and she convenes the annual Just Us Girls Conference, which regularly draws thousands of women.
She’s described being a woman as both a calling and a ministry in itself, and much of her public teaching centers on encouraging women toward that same conviction.
She and Kingsley also co-host “#3PMWithPM,” a recurring virtual prayer gathering, and the “Bible Before Breakfast” podcast, extending their teaching beyond DCC’s physical campuses to a wider online audience.
About Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo
Because Mildred and Kingsley’s ministry is so closely joined, readers researching her often have direct questions about him too. Here’s a quick reference:
- Who is Kingsley Okonkwo? Known widely as “Pastor K” or “PK,” he was born January 29, 1976, in Lagos, to Rowland and Rosannah Okonkwo, a family of royal lineage from Obowo in Imo State. He’s Igbo by heritage and founded David Christian Centre in 1996.
- What is Kingsley Okonkwo’s background? He’s a presidential member of the American Association of Christian Counsellors, a board-certified Master Christian Life Coach, and an Advanced Certified Marriage and Family Life Coach, credentials that underpin his decades of relationship counseling work through DCC and LDM.
- How many wives did Okonkwo marry? One. Kingsley Okonkwo has been married only to Mildred, since September 2005.
- Did Kingsley Okonkwo get a tattoo? Yes. In early 2026, around his 50th birthday, he revealed a Roman numeral tattoo reading “III:XVI,” representing John 3:16, on his arm. The tattoo sparked significant debate among Nigerian Christians online, with critics citing Leviticus 19:28’s warning against marking the skin. Okonkwo responded publicly that the decision was personal, that he intended it partly to spark conversation about Scripture, and that he planned to get more.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
Mildred and Kingsley’s ministry centers on marriage, dating, and family life, taught through a practical, counseling-oriented lens rather than pure doctrine. Their teaching leans on real, specific stories, PCOS, infertility, the ordinary tension of building a life with another person, rather than abstract theology, which is likely why their content resonates as widely as it does across Nigerian social media and beyond.
Influence and Legacy
Mildred’s clearest legacy so far is the space she’s built for Nigerian Christian women to talk openly about fertility struggles and personal identity within a church culture that doesn’t always make room for that kind of honesty. The Just Us Girls Conference has grown into one of the notable annual gatherings for Christian women in Nigeria, and her willingness to discuss her own PCOS diagnosis publicly has made her a reference point for other women navigating similar diagnoses.
Together with Kingsley, she’s helped build David Christian Centre into a congregation known specifically for relationship and marriage teaching, a niche that’s carried their influence well beyond DCC’s own membership through LDM’s seminars, broadcasts, and the couple’s active social media presence.
Criticism and Public Perception
Most of the public criticism directed at the couple in recent years has actually centered on Kingsley rather than Mildred, specifically the backlash he received in early 2026 after revealing his tattoo. Critics argued the choice was inappropriate for a pastor and inconsistent with Old Testament instruction; supporters countered that the criticism missed the point of Christian liberty and that Kingsley’s decades of marriage counseling work shouldn’t be overshadowed by a single personal choice. Mildred herself has not been a significant target of controversy; most public commentary about her has been supportive, particularly around her openness about PCOS and infertility.
Interesting Facts
- She was the baby of her family for five years until a younger sister came along.
- Both of her parents are still alive and remain actively involved grandparents to her children.
- Kingsley’s line about marrying her for love rather than children became a well-known part of their public story, repeated for years afterward.
- The couple renewed their wedding vows in recent years, a milestone shared publicly alongside their pregnancy announcement.
- She holds two university degrees, one in English Arts and a second in International Law and Diplomacy.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Kingsley Okonkwo founds the youth fellowship that becomes David Christian Centre |
| 1999 | Kingsley founds the Love, Dating & Sex Fellowship |
| 2005 | Mildred marries Kingsley Okonkwo; the fellowship is renamed Love, Dating & Marriage (LDM) |
| 2016 | Founds the Just Us Girls Global Network |
| 2024 | The couple marks 19 years of marriage, widely celebrated in Nigerian media |
| January 2026 | Mildred publicly confirms she is expecting their fourth child |
| February 2026 | Kingsley reveals a John 3:16 tattoo around his 50th birthday, sparking public debate |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children does Pastor Mildred Okonkwo have?
Mildred and Kingsley Okonkwo have three children, Dassah, Davida, and David, and announced in January 2026 that they are expecting a fourth child.
Where is Pastor Mildred Okonkwo from?
She was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, where she also attended school and later built her ministry with her husband.
Who is Pastor Mildred Okonkwo’s husband?
She is married to Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, founder and Lead Pastor of David Christian Centre in Lagos, whom she married in September 2005.
What books has Mildred Kingsley-Okonkwo written?
She has authored teaching materials and books connected to her ministry work on marriage, relationships, and women’s issues, distributed primarily through David Christian Centre and the Just Us Girls Global Network.
How old is Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo’s wife?
Mildred Kingsley-Okonkwo’s birth year is commonly cited as 1978, though this has not been independently confirmed through an official source.
How many wives did Okonkwo marry?
Kingsley Okonkwo has had one wife, Mildred, whom he married in September 2005.
