The personality of Dr. Esther Solomon Audu resonates around a humble daughter, wife, mother, and an accomplished medical doctor par excellence. Coming from a humble background, but through hard work, perseverance, and the mercy of God, she was determined to make a difference despite all odds.
Dr. Audu started her primary school education at CMS Primary School Gudi in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and secondary school education at Government Girls’ Science School, Shendam, Plateau State. Afterward, she proceeded to the University of Jos for her medical studies.
At a time when proceeding for residency training was difficult, Audu pressed on despite the challenges of the home front as a wife and mother, in addition to the pressure of work. She pulled through and passed her examinations within the examinable period, qualifying as a Consultant Pathologist and Microbiologist. This made her one of the few female Medical Consultants in Nasarawa State.
After a brief work stint at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Audu decided to return home to serve the people of the state, even when the pay was never commensurate with where she was coming from. She couldn’t resist the urge to serve her people, which led her to take up an appointment with the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, a place she worked for over twenty years before its transition to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia.
Dr. Audu has continued to serve and contributes significantly to infectious disease diagnostics and public health. Her work intersects with pathology, particularly in microbiology, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis research, positioning her as a key figure in the state's evolving medical landscape, potentially as the first or among the earliest female consultant pathologists in Nasarawa State and in Nigeria in general.
Dr. Audu, as the Head Special Treatment Clinic (STC) in DASH and now FUTH Lafia, has demonstrated her expertise in clinical pathology, with a focus on microbiology and infectious diseases. She collaborates with laboratory and surgical departments, emphasizing diagnostic advancements in resource-constrained settings. Dr. Audu has been recognized in different ways for her contributions to HIV/AIDS, TB diagnostics, and maternal health. Her 2017 research on rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis highlights her as a foundational figure in the state's pathology services, predating many recent expansions at the teaching hospital.
Her commitment and efforts to address gaps in women's health and infectious disease pathology in North Central Nigeria, where TB and maternal mortality rates remain high, have led her to combine her medical practice with advocacy. As a female health advocate, Dr. Audu does not hesitate in promoting gender equity in medicine, inspiring younger female professionals in a field historically dominated by men.
As one of the founders of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria in Nasarawa State, Dr. Esther Audu is the current State Chairperson of the association. Her leadership exemplifies resilience and innovation in ensuring that MWAN sets the pace for other associations in the state. This leadership quality is brought to bear with the recent three-day medical outreach at Akurba Primary Health Care, where MWAN attended to the poor and vulnerable, and many who benefited showered their blessings on members of the association.
Though unassuming, Dr. Audu, being a consultant of over two decades, represents a personality that ensures doggedness and quality in any given assignment. The state awaits tapping into the potentials of this medical doctor and academic par excellence.
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