Olu of Warri: Celebrating a quintessential King, Ogiame Atuwatse III

The oil-rich people of Iwereland of Warri Kingdom of Delta State every 2nd of April roll out the drums to celebrate the epitome of culture, pride and the custodian of their culture, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, as he marks yet another epoch birthday anniversary.

The young charismatic first-class monarch since he ascended the exalted throne of his forebears has led the good people of Warri Kingdom with a great sense of pride, dignity and admiration.

His love, passion and commitment to see to the development of the oil-rich Warri Kingdom knows no bounds as he continues to explore, and engage progressive partners both home and abroad to share in his dream to bring prosperity and development to Iwereland.

For a few years now, the Warri Kingdom has stood as a beacon of hope, resilience, and prosperity under the benevolent leadership of His Royal Majesty. But beyond the grandeur of the palace walls lies a profound commitment to uplifting the lives of his people.

On the second year anniversary of the throne, his Royal Majesty re-echoed his commitment while addressing the Itsekiri nation, the monarch urged his people to remain focused and steadfast in contributing their quotas to the growth of their ancestral home.

He enjoined them to always look inward at what they can do individually and collectively to promote the socio-economic growth and infrastructural development of their immediate environment so that those in remote settlements can begin to feel the impact of their contributions.

According to him; “Once again, this is an open invitation for all the Itsekiris, home and abroad, to join us to build Iwereland better because together we can attain a greater height. We will lead by example.”

While expressing the optimism that the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would assist in completing its development efforts, Ogiame assured that the execution of Iwere Master Plan already in place will be fully realised in due time.

“The Iwere Master Plan is in progress and a vital component of the plan is using the PIA to our advantage. As we develop the areas that produce oil in Iwereland and link these areas to those that are not so fortunate to have oil, under our watch, we would not encourage taking resources from one place to develop another but they will all be lifted. We must be our brothers keepers,” he said.

Sharing the monarch’s dream for Iwereland, a community Leader, Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, Ginuwa 1 Ruling House stated, “His Majesty’s vision for our kingdom extends far beyond tradition. Through initiatives like the Royal Iwere Foundation, he has transformed the lives of countless youths, offering them opportunities in fields like technology and empowering women to thrive in our society.

“His reign has been full of fruitful activities and bountiful achievements for the Itsekiri people so far. He noted since the king’s ascension, he has reached out to neighbouring kingdoms to build bridges.

“As part of the king’s concept of coexistence with neighbouring and sister communities, our Olu has reached out to various traditional rulers and community heads in Delta state.

“For the first time in the history of our country, Itsekiri kingdom had its first Iwere Economic Summit held on May 26, 2022, with all major stakeholders and players in the industry coming to plan the future of Itsekiri nation.

“We are looking at a situation where in Itsekiri land, the development will come in the time of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III. And it is our prayer that God will continue to grant our king long life and wisdom to manage the Warri kingdom, and we know that in a couple of years from now there will be greater development in Warri Kingdom.”

“The Itsekiri kingdom is intact under the spiritual and traditional head of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwaste III, and the loyalty of Itsekiri people to the Olu is not solicited, since he is the head and father of all Itsekiris and he has no uncle as stated by Prince Yemi Emiko but rather has sons and daughters.”

“Every Itsekiri man or woman is loyal to the Olu as the stool has been in existence for almost six hundred years.

“The Royal Iwere Foundation has become a catalyst for change, igniting a spirit of innovation and progress among the youth of Warri. With access to cutting-edge technology and mentorship, they are charting new paths towards a brighter future.”

“But His Majesty’s impact extends beyond the borders of Warri. His reign has brought stability and prosperity to the region, fostering an environment where peace flourishes and opportunities abound.”

In recognition of his unwavering commitment to peace and diplomacy, His Royal Majesty was honored with the prestigious Key to the City of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, symbolising the deep bonds of friendship between nations.”

As we celebrate the birthday of His Royal Majesty, let us honor his tireless dedication to his people, his kingdom, and the timeless values of peace, unity, and progress. Long live the King!”

Ifetayo, who works with Olu of Warri, wrote this piece in honour of the monarch on his birthday anniversary.