Esther Agbaroba

Ethiopian educator who pioneered girls' education initiatives in rural Africa

Esther Agbaroba (born 1948) is a visionary Ethiopian educator and social activist who transformed girls' education in rural Africa. A former teacher and principal, she founded the Ethiopian Women's Educational and Cultural Association (EWECO) in 1986 to address gender disparities in education. Her programs have built over 150 schools and trained thousands of teachers, with special focus on STEM education for girls. Agbaroba's "Education for All" initiative introduced mobile schools to reach nomadic communities in the Afar region.

Her work earned recognition from UNESCO and the World Bank, and she was awarded the Niagara Award for education leadership. Agbaroba's TED Talk "The power of education in rural Africa" highlights her belief that educated women are catalysts for community development. She continues advocating for girls' access to education through her nonprofit Africa Education Trust, which operates across 12 African countries.