Our Woman Crush Wednesday, Esther Umelo is a broadcast journalist with a passion for telling impactful stories and sharing reliable information. She studied Mass Communication and Linguistics at the University of Port Harcourt and began her media journey as a red-carpet host for Light TV Africa. She later co-hosted E-Talk on Silverbird Television.
During her National Youth Service in Abia State, Esther worked at Vision Africa Radio 104.1 FM. Her creativity and professionalism led to her being retained immediately after her service year – a first in the station’s history. She went on to anchor Issues, a well-regarded political programme that brought important conversations and notable voices to the airwaves.
After three years at Vision Africa, Esther joined Rapid Broadcasting Network, owners of Rapid 96.5 FM and Rapid TV, as one of the first members of staff. She co-hosted the 2023 Poll Studio, delivering live election updates across radio and television. The following year, she was transferred to Lagos to support the launch of Rapid TV. She now works as a senior producer and presenter, while also leading the Web Team across the network’s Lagos, Abuja, and Abia offices.
Esther has reported from some of the biggest cultural and professional gatherings in Nigeria, including AFRIFF, AMVCA, AMAA, the NBA Conference, the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Conference, and the Art of Technology Lagos.
She completed an executive course in Media Entrepreneurship at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University. She is also a fellow of the Young Directors Forum of the Chartered Institute of Directors and sits on the board of the Youth and Student Advocate for Development Initiative.
Esther has hosted high-profile events such as ACTIVATED by Edusko (Africa’s largest education platform), the African Women’s Entrepreneurs and Sustainability Conference by ImpactHER, and the CEIBS Business Owners Network programme. She has also moderated panel discussions at Fashion Evo, Science of Trade, and Africa Marketing Analytics (AMTEC).
Energetic, insightful, and focused on growth, Esther is shaping the future of media and communications in Nigeria. Pride Magazine Nigeria loves this and gives Esther Umelo her flowers.