Twenty years after surviving one of Nigeria’s deadliest aviation disasters, Dr Esther Longe has transformed her experience into a journey of faith, leadership and service to others.
Longe, who was 21 years old at the time, was aboard ADC Airlines Flight 053 travelling from Abuja to Sokoto on October 29, 2006, when the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off.
The Boeing 737-2B7 reportedly encountered wind shear before breaking apart and bursting into flames in a cornfield near Tungar Madaki village, Abuja.
There were 105 people on board, comprising 100 passengers and five crew members. Ninety-six people died, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido; his son, Senator Badamasi Maccido; and the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Muhammed.
Only nine people survived the disaster, with Longe, formerly known as Esther Kemmer Amoda, emerging as the only survivor without physical injuries.
The weight of survival
Following the crash, newspapers described her as the ‘Miracle Girl’, while television crews gathered outside her home as Nigerians tried to understand how she had survived the tragedy.
However, the attention came with emotional challenges, including panic attacks and survivor’s guilt.
Longe explained that although she understood that her survival came with a responsibility, she struggled to identify what that responsibility meant at the time.
She admitted that being singled out as the only survivor without physical injuries was overwhelming for a 21-year-old who did not understand why she had been spared.
A decade of building her own identity
For the next ten years, Longe focused on education and professional development, determined to establish an identity beyond the plane crash.
She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos before earning a master’s degree in Marketing from the University of South Wales in the United Kingdom.
She subsequently completed a master’s degree in Research and a PhD in Marketing at the University of Bath, also in the United Kingdom.
Her professional career saw her work as a marketing strategist with major international brands and organisations, including PwC, GTBank, Pizza Express and Wrigley’s.
She also served as a Super Mentor for FCMB SheVentures and a facilitator for the Africa Green Grant Award.
At the time, she was building a career that could potentially lead to a Chief Marketing Officer position in a Fortune 500 company.
Longe said she wanted to be recognised for her professional achievements rather than the circumstances surrounding her survival.
She admitted that it was easier to avoid discussing the crash because there were no visible physical reminders of what she had experienced.
However, interactions with families who lost loved ones in the accident gradually changed her perspective.
She said meeting some of the bereaved families reinforced her determination to live intentionally, recognising that although she could not restore what they had lost, she could make meaningful contributions through the life she had been given.
A major change in direction
In December 2016, ten years after the crash, Longe experienced another major turning point when she said she received a spiritual instruction to leave marketing and enter full-time ministry.
The decision was difficult because it differed from the career path she had carefully planned.
She described herself as someone who valued planning and control, recalling that she had written her first life plan at the age of 19.
However, she eventually accepted the change, despite her initial reluctance.
Today, Longe describes herself as a transformative leader whose work focuses on helping individuals, families and communities build stronger relationships with God and overcome the limitations of their past experiences.
She works as a speaker, author, teacher, marketplace pastor, trainer and coach.
She is also the lead coach of the Unicorn Programme, a coaching initiative designed to help individuals recognise their uniqueness, overcome limiting beliefs, address personal trauma and align their lives with their understanding of God’s purpose.
Building a ministry around faith and leadership
Longe’s ministry activities operate through five major initiatives.
God in Real Life Outreach focuses on helping people develop a closer relationship with God through their everyday experiences.
Broken is designed to support people dealing with emotional pain and life challenges as they seek to rebuild their relationship with God.
The Alternative Business School (TABS) provides business and leadership education for Christians, with an emphasis on integrity in business, governance and ministry.
The 7000 Movement celebrates individuals committed to leadership, governance and ministry based on integrity, righteousness and justice.
Adullam Fellowship, meanwhile, is a monthly virtual gathering for professionals and leaders in the marketplace, providing an opportunity for spiritual renewal and fellowship.
Through these initiatives, Longe combines her background in marketing and strategy with her religious calling to help individuals and organisations develop their potential.
Whole Leadership: A model built on experience
Another major aspect of her work is a leadership framework she calls Whole Leadership.
The model is built around three principles: identity, radical candour and authentic leadership.
For Longe, the framework is rooted in her personal experiences and understanding of faith.
She explained that her religious beliefs influence her approach to leadership, decision-making and relationships with people.
She also emphasised that she views the people working with her as individuals entrusted to her care rather than simply employees.
Her journey from surviving the 2006 ADC Airlines crash to becoming a leader, mentor and minister reflects her determination to turn a life-changing experience into an opportunity to serve others.
Source: Vanguard
