Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Weng Global
Nigerian philanthropist and humanitarian, Pastor Mrs Esther Ojochide Tonlagha, has been honoured among the Top 100 Reputable Women of African Descent, 2026, in recognition of her contributions to humanitarian service, women’s empowerment and community development.
Tonlagha received the recognition at the Africa Women Summit UK Convergence 2026, held on Saturday, August 15, at Hilton London Croydon in the United Kingdom. The conference brought together African women from the continent, members of the African diaspora and professionals and allies committed to advancing women’s leadership and empowerment.
The recognition places Tonlagha among women whose work has contributed to positive change within African communities and beyond. She also participated as a panel speaker at the conference, where she shared experiences from her humanitarian journey and discussed resilience, empowerment and community transformation.
The summit, themed “Her Power, Her Purpose, Her Platform,” provided a platform for discussions around women’s leadership, purpose, empowerment and the role of African women in creating meaningful social impact.
Recognition for humanitarian service
In her acceptance remarks, Tonlagha described the honour as significant not only to her personally but also to the Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation (EMT Foundation), the organisation through which much of her humanitarian work has been carried out.
She said the recognition represented the collective efforts of her team, volunteers, partners and supporters who have contributed to the foundation’s programmes and interventions.
Tonlagha dedicated the honour to the people and communities served by the foundation, saying their strength and resilience continue to inspire her commitment to humanitarian work.
Rather than viewing the award simply as an achievement, she described it as a responsibility to expand the foundation’s interventions and reach more vulnerable people.
According to her, the recognition has strengthened her determination to continue supporting individuals and communities facing difficult circumstances.
“I accept this award not only as an honour, but also as a responsibility—a responsibility to do more, reach more people, create more opportunities, and continue serving humanity with compassion and purpose,” she said.
Her comments reflect a broader philosophy behind her philanthropic activities: that recognition should translate into greater commitment to service rather than become an endpoint.
More than two decades of humanitarian service
Tonlagha’s recognition comes against the background of more than two decades of humanitarian service and community-focused initiatives.
Through the EMT Foundation, she has supported programmes covering healthcare, education, economic empowerment and community development.
The foundation, established in 2010, has sponsored at least 53 university students and distributes more than 10,000 school bags and educational materials annually, according to reports.
Its programmes have also provided income-generating skills training to women and young people, while its healthcare interventions have reached more than 5,300 beneficiaries.
The foundation’s community development activities also include the annual Benikrukru Carnival, an initiative that has been organised for 18 consecutive years.
These interventions highlight an approach to philanthropy that combines immediate humanitarian assistance with education, skills development and opportunities for economic independence.
Empowering women and young people
One of the latest examples of Tonlagha’s empowerment efforts was the graduation of 41 beneficiaries of the foundation’s Batch C Skill Acquisition Programme in Effurun, Delta State.
At the event, she stressed that empowerment should go beyond providing training and certificates. Instead, she argued that beneficiaries should be given practical opportunities to use their skills to build sustainable livelihoods.
She subsequently announced a N1 million grant for each of the 41 graduates, alongside starter packs and equipment designed to help them establish businesses.
Tonlagha urged the beneficiaries to protect and develop the opportunities they had received, encouraging them to begin from whatever level was possible and gradually build their enterprises.
Her message reflects her emphasis on transforming skills acquisition into tangible economic opportunities.
For Tonlagha, the success of an empowerment programme should ultimately be measured by whether beneficiaries can improve their lives, support their families and contribute positively to their communities.
A platform for sharing experience
At the Africa Women Summit UK, Tonlagha participated in Panel 4, titled “Shared Experiences: Real Journeys, Real Lessons.”
The session examined personal struggles, setbacks, recovery, support systems and lessons learned from challenging periods. Her participation allowed her to share experiences from her own journey while engaging with other accomplished African women.
The organisers’ decision to recognise her alongside other notable women underscores the growing importance of African women who combine leadership with community service.
The summit itself was designed as a major gathering of African women, with organisers announcing a recognition ceremony for 100 reputable women of African descent whose work is contributing to change across different sectors.
Service beyond recognition
For Tonlagha, however, the award appears to be less about personal recognition and more about strengthening the mission of humanitarian service.
She has maintained that vulnerable people should not be forgotten and that communities need access to opportunities that can improve their quality of life.
Her foundation’s activities in education, healthcare, skills development and community support demonstrate an attempt to address different dimensions of vulnerability.
By connecting philanthropy with empowerment, Tonlagha has also positioned skills development as an important pathway towards economic independence.
Her latest recognition in the United Kingdom therefore represents both an acknowledgement of previous work and a renewed call for continued service.
As African communities continue to face challenges involving poverty, unemployment, limited access to education and healthcare, initiatives driven by individuals, foundations and community organisations remain important components of social development.
Tonlagha’s recognition at the Africa Women Summit UK places her humanitarian activities on an international platform while drawing attention to the role Nigerian women continue to play in philanthropy and community transformation.
She has pledged to use the recognition as motivation to do more, reach more people and expand humanitarian interventions.
With the EMT Foundation continuing its programmes across education, healthcare, empowerment and community development, the award could serve as another milestone in Tonlagha’s long-running commitment to humanitarian service.
For the Nigerian philanthropist, the message from the UK conference is clear: recognition may celebrate what has already been achieved, but the greater responsibility lies in ensuring that more lives and communities benefit from the work ahead.
Sources: Independent Newspapers; Vanguard News; Africa Women Summit UK Convergence 2026 event listing
