In Nigeria’s oil heartland, Olori Atuwatse III sees a different resource
In Nigeria’s Oil Heartland, Olori Atuwatse III Redefines Royalty
In Nigeria s oil heartland Olori - Nestled in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region lies the Warri Kingdom, a place where decades of petroleum wealth have contributed to the growth of Africa’s largest economy. Yet, despite this prosperity, many nearby communities still struggle with inadequate infrastructure, limited access to clean water, and gaps in education and healthcare. Olori Atuwatse III, the queen consort of Warri, voiced her concerns during an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, calling the situation a "resource curse" where resources are extracted but not invested in local development.
Modernizing Monarchy with a Focus on Empowerment
When Tsola Emiko took the throne as Ogiame Atuwatse III in 2021, she and her spouse embarked on a mission to redefine the role of royalty in the region. They established the Office of the Olori, which provided a structured platform for her to spearhead initiatives aimed at advancing women’s rights, child welfare, and educational opportunities. “I didn’t embrace it with glamour,” she reflected. “What I felt was weight. What I felt was responsibility… a responsibility to use this platform of privilege to serve.”
The couple also launched the Royal Iwere Foundation, which has since prioritized three core areas: education, empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Their efforts have led to programs such as STEM-focused learning, eco-friendly projects, and entrepreneurial support tailored to women. “Everything really is centered around human capital development,” Olori Atuwatse III explained. The foundation’s work has already seen tangible outcomes, including the registration of 44 new businesses and the expansion of operations for others through mentorship and financial access.
A Loan Facility to Fuel Women’s Growth
One of the foundation’s recent milestones was the introduction of a 150-million-naira loan facility, approximately $110,000, designed to assist women in scaling their ventures. “Our biggest resource is our human resource,” she emphasized. “My vision, my hope is to build our people so that they can build our communities.”
Transforming Perceptions Through Leadership
Olori Atuwatse III’s approach extends beyond local boundaries. She and her husband created the Elevate Africa Fellowship, a 10-month mentoring program for professionals in their mid-career. Through this initiative, they have pledged $1 million to cultivate future African leaders, stressing that collaboration across the continent is vital for sustained progress. “We must begin to elevate Africa across the continent,” she said. “We cannot just elevate Nigeria in isolation.”
The queen’s perspective on development is deeply personal. Her own experience with postpartum anxiety in 2018 led to a "mental breakthrough," reshaping her understanding of leadership and purpose. This insight now guides her efforts in youth development and empowering women. “We don’t believe that Africa is a problem to be solved,” she stated. “We believe Africa is rich. Africa is resilient. African excellence needs to be amplified.”
“The kingdom sadly suffers from what I call the resource curse,” the queen consort, Olori Atuwatse III, told CNN’s Larry Madowo. “Everything is taken out, but nothing is developed.”
“To really change anything, we must first change how we think — not just what we think,” she said.
“Our biggest resource is our human resource,” Olori Atuwatse III told CNN. “My vision, my hope is to build our people so that they can build our communities.”
“We don’t believe that Africa is a problem to be solved,” she said. “We believe Africa is rich. Africa is resilient. African excellence needs to be amplified.”