Esther Agbon is a distinguished public health expert specializing in fiscal governance and policy advocacy for maternal and sexual reproductive health and rights in Nigeria. With over two decades of experience in the development sector across Africa, she has played a key role in shaping policies, driving systemic change and fostering sustainable solutions for improved health outcomes.
As associate director of Results for Development’s Nigeria office, Esther leads country practice strategy and program management, including partner engagement and client relationship management. She oversees country office operations, manages team performance, and provides technical and quality review of project deliverables. Her focus is on strengthening program operations, enhancing delivery and efficiency and expanding partnerships to promote long-term sustainability.
Prior to joining R4D, Esther served as country lead for the Evidence for Action Program, managed by Options Consultancy in Nigeria. In this role, she established and nurtured 11 state-led accountability mechanisms for maternal and newborn health across Nigeria. Her work has emphasized grassroots advocacy, capacity building and empowering citizens to demand their rights from duty bearers. She has worked to increase access to equitable health care services for vulnerable populations in rural communities and has contributed to significant increases in state budgetary allocations for health in Bauchi, Kaduna, and Yobe — raising them to 15% of total state budgets. Additionally, she has helped secure increased financing for priority maternal, newborn and child health programs in Lagos, Yobe, Bauchi, Niger and Kaduna.
Esther served as a steering committee member and co-chair of the Accountability Working Group of the Civil Society Coordinating Group on Global Financing Facility (CSCG) from 2019 to 2024.
She holds a master’s degree in project development and implementation from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and is currently pursuing a PhD in public health policy at the SWISS International School of Business Management. Esther is fluent in English as well as the Nigerian languages Efik/Ibibio and Ejagham.
