The Chief Executive Officer of the Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Tonlagha, has been recognised among the 2026 Top 100 Reputable Women of African Descent for her dedication to humanitarian service and community development.
Tonlagha received the award at the Africa Women Summit United Kingdom Conference 2026 held on Saturday at Hilton Croydon, UK.
During the conference, she also participated as a panel speaker, which was themed, “Her Power, Her Purpose, Her Platform,” and brought together women leaders, partners and stakeholders to discuss leadership, empowerment and social impact.
In her acceptance speech, Tonlagha said the recognition was not only a personal honour but a reflection of the collective efforts of her foundation, volunteers, partners and supporters.
“On behalf of the Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation, I am deeply honoured to receive this award for Humanitarian Service in Nigeria,” she said.
She added that the EMT Foundation was established to give vulnerable people opportunities to live with dignity, hope and a better future.
According to her, the foundation’s interventions have focused on empowerment, education, healthcare, community development and humanitarian assistance.
Tonlagha said the recognition would further strengthen her resolve to expand the foundation’s humanitarian interventions across communities.
“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.
She added, “There is still much work to be done, and this recognition strengthens our determination to continue.”
Tonlagha dedicated the honour to her team, volunteers, partners, supporters and the communities served by the foundation, describing their resilience as a major source of inspiration.
She also expressed appreciation to the organisers of the summit for recognising the foundation’s humanitarian efforts and pledged continued service to vulnerable Nigerians.
