Kemi Ajumobi 
Olori Atuwatse III, the distinguished Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, is a transformative leader dedicated to community empowerment, women’s advancement, and sustainable development across Africa.
As the founder of Elevate Africa, Olori Atuwatse III leads a strategic platform that connects African leaders, innovators, and changemakers across the continent and diaspora. Her work actively reshapes the African narrative through high-level convenings, fellowships, and media initiatives.
Her commitment to development is further demonstrated through her role as co-founder of the Royal Iwere Foundation, which operates place-based initiatives including EstablishHer, Love Gardens, Teacher’s Training Programme, and the Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo STEM and Innovation Lab. These programmes provide comprehensive education, skills training, and economic empowerment opportunities to underserved children and women across the Warri area, advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
A passionate advocate for girls’ education and women’s empowerment, Her Royal Majesty pioneered the Women Allying Women initiative, creating a network of leaders and allies committed to collective empowerment. Her extensive coaching background drives her mentorship approach as she equips young people with practical skills for meaningful economic and social participation.
An accomplished entrepreneur and board member across various enterprises, Olori Atuwatse III combines business acumen with her advocacy for the arts and culture, leveraging Africa’s rich heritage as a form of soft power to promote the continent’s advancement and reshape global narratives.
Beyond her philanthropic endeavours, Olori Atuwatse III serves on the High-Level Advisory Committee on the Nigerian Federal Government’s Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender and maintains active membership in professional organisations including CIARB Nigeria. She holds an LLB from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science, and she is called to the Nigerian Bar.
She is a sought-after thought leader and speaker who has addressed prestigious platforms including the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, Global Reputation Forum, the African Achievers Awards, the 6th USAFRICA Business Week during the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lagos State Teachers Education Summit, and the Warri Legislative Arm-House Committee on Education.
Her exceptional contributions to society have earned her international recognition, including the 2024 Joyce Banda Leadership Award, Freedom of the City of London, the US President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2024 Most Influential 100 Hall of Fame Award, and Avance Media’s 2024 100 Most Influential African Women, among many others.
Olori Atuwatse III is happily married to His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, and they are blessed with three children.
Share the journey that led you to become the Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom and how it has shaped your mission
When we married, my husband, Ogiame Atuwatse III, was a prince. So, I knew that queenship might be part of my future, although I didn’t know when. Even then, both of us were committed to transforming lives with whatever resources we had. By the time he ascended the throne as the 21st Olu of Warri in 2021, I didn’t need to think about what my role as Queen Consort would be. I instinctively understood that I had been given a larger platform to do what I had always done: help people unlock and live their extraordinary potential, whether relationally, economically, or in discovering who they truly are. The crown simply enabled me to expand my impact through initiatives like the Royal Iwere Foundation, which has now reached over 10,000 people across 227 communities in Warri. We just celebrated 4 years of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR’s reign and we are grateful to God for the journey so far and what is to come.
What inspired your commitment to community empowerment and women’s advancement in Africa?
Humanity inspired me. It’s quite difficult to look around and recognise how underserved certain individuals and communities are, without feeling a strong urge to change that reality. There’s a saying that talent is evenly distributed but opportunity isn’t, and I truly believe that. I’ve seen incredible talent in underserved communities and overlooked people – often women – who have extraordinary potential but lack access to the platforms and resources that could unlock it.
Every day, my aim is to make opportunities more accessible so people can realize the brilliance that already exists within them. This isn’t just about being altruistic; it’s because I am absolutely certain that African communities, our countries, and our continent simply cannot progress without empowering everyone possible. When we leave talent on the sidelines because of gender, geography, or circumstance, we’re not just failing individuals—we’re restricting our collective potential.
How does Elevate Africa actively reshape the African narrative, and what unique approaches do you utilise to connect leaders and changemakers?
Elevate Africa was born from the realisation that if we Africans don’t leverage our solutions and tell our own stories, someone else will – and they’ll rarely get it right. For too long, Africa’s narrative has been shaped by external voices that focus on our challenges while ignoring our innovations and resilience. Elevate Africa is deliberately changing that through three transformative agencies: Convenings, Fellowships, and Media, all working together to spotlight African solutions to African and global problems.
Our unique approach focuses on actively seeking out innovators – both recognised and unknown – based on their work’s quality and potential; bringing together high-level leaders to shape our continent’s future with actionable commitments; incubating innovation and connecting changemakers with resources and networks; and amplifying all of this through our media arm. By integrating these elements into one ecosystem, we ensure that solutions are implemented, stories are told authentically, and over time our continent reclaims its narrative.
What are some key outcomes or success stories from Elevate Africa that you are particularly proud of?
I’m particularly proud of how our inaugural Elevate Africa Convening in 2024 brought together presidents, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the continent. The convening culminated in tangible recommendations, including innovative approaches to education, enhanced public-private partnerships, and strategic pathways for increasing intra-African trade.
Our Fellowship has been equally transformative, connecting Africa’s brightest minds across sectors – from Joseph Ogwal, who has revolutionised agriculture by supporting over 30,000 farmers through Agro Supply, to Maya Fakhfakh, who is pioneering AI-driven women’s health solutions across underserved African communities. Right now, what excites me most is that we’ve secured Botswana as our partner for the October 2025 Convening, “Africa: The Next Chapter.” This continental leadership gathering, co-hosted by their government, will feature a Presidential Roundtable led by the President of Mauritius.
For me, our biggest success is not about the names or numbers; it’s about how we are creating long-term platforms for Africans to chart our continent’s future together.
How did the Royal Iwere Foundation begin, and what are its core objectives in the Warri area?
The Royal Iwere Foundation was born from a strategic rethink of the Warri Kingdom. The king and I recognised our responsibility to institutionalise impact at scale. Thus, rather than operate individual, short-term projects, we created RIF as the vehicle through which we could systematically transform lives and change prevailing narratives within our region.
Our core mission is to provide physical, mental, and entrepreneurial support to indigenes of Warri Kingdom, thoroughly equipping them with viable means to thrive in society. We focus on education and skill development, healthcare, economic empowerment, environmental conservation, and technology and innovation. Every RIF programme aligns with our belief that when you change a life, you change a community, and when you change enough communities, you transform an entire region.
Could you describe the EstablishHer initiative and the impact it has on women’s empowerment?
I could talk about EstablishHer all day because it’s such a joy to witness something that simultaneously restores agency, builds practical skills, and transforms mindsets. EstablishHer is our entrepreneurship programme that supports women – market traders, micro-business owners, the very backbone of our local economy, who’ve never seen themselves that way. We begin with intensive training covering leadership, emotional intelligence, family dynamics, and business fundamentals. Our facilitators, who speak both English and Pidgin English, break down complex concepts into relatable, actionable wisdom that meets women exactly where they are.
The transformation we see is remarkable. Women who once thought they could only engage in subsistence trading now see themselves as entrepreneurs and leaders. But beyond individual success stories, EstablishHer creates a ripple effect because participants move into community development roles, becoming mentors themselves and hiring others. In essence, we’re building an ecosystem where empowered women empower others.
What role does education play in your development initiatives, particularly with the Teacher’s Training Programme and the STEM and Innovation Lab?
Education sits at the heart of everything we do at the Royal Iwere Foundation because it’s the one force that can break cycles of poverty and unlock potential. Whether we’re training women through EstablishHer, establishing Love Gardens in schools, or running our various skills programmes, education is the thread that connects them all.
When it comes to children’s education, we believe that teachers are the architects of our future, so we must prioritise their development. Through our Teacher’s Training Programme, we train educators on global best practices and encourage them to uphold the teaching profession with dignity. Similarly, we believe that every child deserves access to tools that allow them to innovate, explore their inherent talents, and discover what’s truly possible for their lives. Thus, our Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo STEM and Innovation Lab, established in partnership with CleverMinds Educational Foundation, ensures that children in Warri have access to innovative STEM education, entrepreneurial skills, and psychosocial support.
Tell us about the ‘Women Allying Women’ initiative. How does this network empower women and promote collaboration?
For too long, women have been conditioned to see each other as rivals, to compete for the single seat at the table rather than demanding more space. Women Allying Women challenges that scarcity mindset. Our network makes it clear that we shouldn’t aim to be the only woman in the boardroom or the first woman to break a specific barrier and then close the door behind us. True success means actively creating and expanding pathways for other women. So, this initiative fosters mutual empowerment by promoting opportunities, making introductions, providing mentorship, and simply refusing to perpetuate the harmful narrative that women can’t work together.
As a mentor, what practical skills do you prioritise to prepare young people for economic and social participation?
As a mentor, the first thing I focus on is identity work – helping young people know themselves, build genuine confidence, and discover their purpose. When you’re grounded in who you are and what you’re called to do, you won’t be driven by every wind or trend. You will make decisions from a place of clarity rather than confusion, and that makes you strategic in approaching opportunities and challenges.
Whether it’s financial literacy, digital skills, or communication abilities, young people who know themselves can be intentional about their development rather than scattered. Behind this empowered woman is a girl who chose to own her light, and that’s exactly what I’m helping young people do – own their light so they can shine it purposefully in whatever space they occupy.
In your view, what are the biggest challenges facing young women in Africa today, and how can they be addressed?
The biggest challenges facing young women in Africa today stem from both external barriers and internal limitations that society has placed on them. Externally, we’re dealing with limited access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. For example, in Nigeria, women earn about 23% less than men for similar work. But what breaks my heart more is the internal challenge – too many brilliant young women have been conditioned to doubt their own capabilities, shrink themselves, or see other women as competition rather than allies.
We need policies that ensure equal access to education and economic opportunities, but we also need programmes that build confidence and teach young women to recognise their inherent worth and potential. We need more platforms that amplify young women’s voices, more funding that flows directly to women-led enterprises, and, crucially, we need successful women to actively create pathways for others. Our women are very talented; we just have to remove the barriers that keep their talents hidden.
How do you leverage Africa’s rich heritage to promote advancement and reshape global narratives?
As a traditional leader and culture custodian passionate about innovation, I see Africa’s heritage as our key advantage. Our traditions hold sophisticated systems of governance, innovation, and community building that the world urgently needs today. The issue, as I mentioned earlier, is that for too long, others have told our story, emphasising what we lack instead of celebrating our contributions.
Through Elevate Africa and initiatives like the Threads of Africa Fashion Prize, we’re showcasing African excellence in its full context – not as exotic curiosities, but as sophisticated solutions and innovations that have always existed. When we launched Threads of Africa, we had over 520 submissions from across the continent, each design celebrating our diverse cultural heritage whilst pushing creative boundaries. That’s how we leverage heritage – by showing the world that African tradition and innovation aren’t opposing forces, they’re the same brilliance expressed across time.
What role do you believe the arts and culture play in economic empowerment and societal change?
Soft power! Arts and culture are soft power in action. Look at how Korean dramas sparked global demand for Korean food, language, and tourism, or how American music and films sell entire lifestyles. These countries have leveraged their arts and culture for both influence and income. If we are intentional, Africa will do the same. The world is already engaging with our culture: Afrobeats constantly tops international charts, our fashion influences global trends, and our fiction wins global awards. However, economic empowerment will only come when we also own the systems that invest in, distribute, and amplify our arts and culture. Then, and only then, will we be able to use them as a proper tool for societal change because we will control what stories get told and how they get told.
How important is it for women to be represented in leadership positions within government and the private sector?
A society or business that excludes half its population from decision-making has essentially capped its potential. Experts say that if the gender leadership gap is closed, by 2043, Africa could lift 53 million people out of extreme poverty and boost GDP per capita by 5 per cent. That’s because when women secure meaningful – not tokenistic – leadership positions, we bring different perspectives and priorities that make policies, products, and services more inclusive and effective. If we’re serious about continental growth, then we must be serious about women’s representation in leadership.
What strategies do you believe are most effective for advancing gender equality and women’s rights in Africa?
We need policies that guarantee equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and we need successful women to actively mentor and create pathways for others. Additionally, we need male allies who recognise that gender equality isn’t a zero-sum game. When we combine legal frameworks with supportive systems and strategic partnerships, we won’t just advance individual women; we’ll also transform entire societies.
What message do you love to communicate to leaders and changemakers through your engagements at prestigious platforms?
I tell leaders that the solutions Africa needs already exist within our communities. We just have to recognise, resource, and amplify the brilliance that’s already here.
I also challenge leaders to move beyond conversations to tangible actions. Too many conferences end with impressive declarations that gather dust on shelves. Real change happens when we allocate resources, establish pathways, and hold ourselves accountable for measurable outcomes. Across Africa, our credibility must begin to rest on what we deliver, not what we promise.
Can you share a defining moment or experience in your life that significantly impacted your approach to leadership?
It hasn’t been a single dramatic moment but a series of quiet ones. The first occurred years ago during a tough post-partum season. I had a private wake-up call that made me ask, “If today were my last day, what would my legacy be?” Since then, many things have acted as gentle reminders of the same lesson: you don’t wait to feel perfect before you lead; you lead by showing up with the light you already have and helping others recognise theirs.
What are your future plans for both Elevate Africa and the Royal Iwere Foundation?
For Elevate Africa, we’re exponentially increasing our impact. This October, we’re co-hosting “Africa: The Next Chapter” with the Government of Botswana. At that convening, our aim is for Africa’s leaders to collaboratively craft a manifesto for our continent’s future. We’re also broadening our Fellowship programme to include more innovators across various sectors and strengthening our media arm to ensure African stories reach global audiences through our own platforms.
With the Royal Iwere Foundation, we’re deepening our roots whilst extending our reach. In the coming months, EstablishHer will impact more communities, and we’ll continue running initiatives that address the evolving needs of our people. Ultimately, the goal is to create a replicable model of community transformation that other kingdoms and communities across Africa can adapt. So, both organisations are building towards the same vision: an Africa that tells its own story, solves its problems, and leads from a position of strength. A transformed Africa that works for future generations.