By Chinelo Obogo
Barely two years on the throne, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has not only built bridges of unity and peaceful coexistence among communities in his kingdom and other neighbouring communities, but, also, attracted fame with his revolutionary stance as a frontline traditional ruler.
Born April 2, 1984 in Warri, the young Prince Godwin Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, obtained a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Political Science from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA in 2006 and a Master of Science degree in Management from the same university in 2007.
He returned to Nigeria for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme after which he worked as an officer at the Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator and Sahara Energy between 2010 and 2012.
A serial entrepreneur, the Olu of Warri is the founder of Noble Nigeria Limited and Coral Curator Limited. He is also the chairman of Ocean Marine Security Limited, Director, Gulf of Guinea Limited and Vessel Link Big Limited.
Olu Atuwatse III has modernised the institution of Olu of Warri by ensuring the peace, unity and prosperity of the kingdom.
His experience as a serial entrepreneur propelled him to host the Iwere Economic Summit, the first of its kind, where stakeholders came together to plan the future of Itsekiri nation. His cardinal programme of reaching out to neighboring kingdoms and traditional rulers has ensured the building of bridges for peaceful coexistence among communities.
His Majesty assured his people of using the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act to execute the master plan of Iwereland. He is also determined to develop oil producing areas in Iwereland and link them to non-oil producing parts of the land to speed up development.
Ogiame Atuwatse III attracted global attention when, in his inaugural speech after his coronation as the Olu of Warri, on August 21, 2021, he declared: “While not seeking to reopen old wounds, it is pertinent to recall the fact that following the grave injustice meted out to Olu Erejuwa II, he visited His Royal Majesty, Oba Akenzua II of Benin, and recounted his ordeal.
“In a reaction, a curse was placed on the land by both of them. It is not recorded that Olu Erejuwa II reversed the curse over the land, nor is it recorded that Oba Akenzua II did the same. Today, in our capacity as Olu, we, hereby, avow, as the spiritual, cultural, political and traditional ruler of this land, I, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri, the first son of Olu Atuwatse II, the grandson and direct descendant of Olu Erejuwa II, who was offended on this throne, I, hereby, reverse the curse placed over this land.
“In its place, I release forgiveness and healing to the Federal Government of Nigeria whose might was used to propagate that offence. And I decree unprecedented and uncommon peace, prosperity, progress, development upon this land. I bring down the government of heaven upon this land, and I direct it to flow as a force that cannot be sabotaged, slowed, or stopped.”
The sterling qualities of Ogiame Atuwatse III have earned him The Sun Most Impactful Royal Father of the Year, 2023.