The Olu of Warri and Olori Atuwatse iii: Redefining African Royal Leadership.
Nigeria’s royal power duo, the Olu of Warri and Olori Atuwatse III, are redefining African monarchy for a new generation. Recently featured in LondonDaily.News and HowWeMadeItInAfrica, Their Majesties are gaining global attention for their bold reimagination of traditional leadership — blending cultural heritage with modern diplomacy, gender equality, and sustainable development.
Modern Royalty in Global Headlines
In 2024, Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III made history by becoming the first female African royal to receive the prestigious Freedom of the City of London. While others might have seen it as ceremonial, she embraced it as a catalyst for change — dedicating the honour to Warri and using it as a platform to amplify Africa’s voice worldwide.
Her profile in LondonDaily.News, titled “The Evolution of Influence”, praised her leadership in bridging cultures and continents. From Guildhall in London to the Georgia State Senate in the U.S., Olori Atuwatse III has used her royal platform to advocate for education, economic partnerships, and diaspora collaboration. She calls herself a “modern African queen,” blending elegance, intellect, and strategy.
A Royal Partnership of Purpose
Featured in HowWeMadeItInAfrica under the title “Nigeria’s Modern Royal Power Duo Redefining Leadership”, Their Majesties are portrayed as visionary leaders who bring reformist energy to the throne. From the day of his coronation, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, made it clear that his wife’s role would be equal — an unprecedented move in traditional monarchies.
Their shared leadership birthed Elevate Africa, a fellowship empowering mid-career African innovators across sectors like agriculture, health, climate, and technology. Their $1 million investment into the programme reflects their commitment to pan-African progress rooted in local values.
In March 2025, the Olu and Olori hosted the 17 inaugural Elevate Africa Fellows in Abuja, Lagos, and Warri — a powerful symbol of culture meeting innovation. These fellows weren’t just meeting royalty; they were engaging a new development model led by traditional authority.
Recognising Women’s Voices
At the HerStory Awards Africa, founded by award winning journalist Stephanie Busari, held earlier this year, Olori Atuwatse III was honoured with both the Champion of Girl-Child Education Award and the HerStory Global Impact Award. Her chapter in the bestselling anthology Her Story: Taking Root, Sparking Change spoke directly to her advocacy for amplifying the voices of African women.
Through the Royal Iwere Foundation, she and His Majesty have impacted over 15,000 lives with programmes in education, women’s enterprise, youth mentorship, and leadership development.
Diplomacy Meets Development
The Olori’s visit to Atlanta in early 2025 further cemented her reputation as a diplomat. She addressed the Georgia State Senate, visited historic landmarks, and made powerful connections with African diaspora leaders. Her charm, humour, and clarity of purpose positioned her as a credible ambassador for modern African royalty.
State leaders and business executives applauded her vision for transatlantic partnerships in education, trade, and innovation. She reminded audiences that “Africa is not a problem to solve — it is a solution to be embraced.”
As the LondonDaily.News article aptly stated, Olori Atuwatse III is “flipping the script” on what it means to be royalty. And as HowWeMadeItInAfrica shows, the Olu and Olori of Warri are not simply symbolic figures — they are strategic actors, building bridges between cultures, industries, and generations.
Their brand of royalty is relevant, forward-looking, and rooted in service.
The world is watching — and Warri is leading.
