The Chief Executive Officer, Esther Matthew Tonlagha Foundation (EMT Foundation), Pastor Mrs Esther Tonlagha, has been honoured among the Top 100 Reputable Women of African Descent, 2026, in recognition of her humanitarian service and contributions to community development.
Tonlagha received the recognition at the Africa Women Summit (AWS) UK Conference 2026, held on Saturday at Hilton Croydon, United Kingdom, where she also participated as a panel speaker.
The conference, themed “Her Power, Her Purpose, Her Platform,” brought together women leaders, partners and other stakeholders to discuss women’s leadership, empowerment, purpose and their role in driving positive change.
In her acceptance speech, Tonlagha described the recognition as a significant honour to her and the foundation, stressing that it represented more than the efforts of one person or organisation.
She said it reflected the lives touched, communities welcomed and the contributions of the foundation’s team, 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.
Tonlagha explained that the EMT Foundation was established on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, hope and a better future.
According to her, the foundation’s mission focuses on supporting vulnerable people and creating meaningful change through service, empowerment, education, healthcare, community development and humanitarian assistance.
She acknowledged the difficult circumstances facing many Nigerians but maintained that acts of kindness could inspire broader positive change.
“When we help a child, support a family, empower a woman, assist a community, or give hope to someone who feels forgotten, we are contributing to a stronger Nigeria,” she said.
The foundation’s CEO dedicated the recognition to her team, volunteers, partners and supporters, acknowledging their commitment and generosity in making its humanitarian interventions possible.
She also dedicated the honour to the people and communities served by the foundation, describing their strength and resilience as an inspiration to expand its humanitarian activities.
Tonlagha said the award was not merely an honour but also a responsibility to increase the foundation’s interventions.
“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 that the recognition had strengthened her determination to continue the foundation’s work, noting that significant challenges remained to be addressed.
“There is still much work to be done, and this recognition strengthens our determination to continue,” she added.
Tonlagha said her vision was to contribute to communities where people receive support, opportunities are accessible and vulnerable individuals are not forgotten.
Her participation as a panel speaker at the AWS UK Conference also provided an international platform for her to engage in discussions on women’s leadership, purpose and the effective use of platforms to create social impact.
The recognition and conference appearance underscore Tonlagha’s growing engagement in humanitarian and women-focused initiatives, with the EMT Foundation serving as a vehicle for interventions aimed at improving lives and strengthening communities.
She expressed appreciation to the organisers for recognising the foundation’s humanitarian efforts and prayed for continued support for its mission, the foundation and Nigeria.
