Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, is set to be featured on CNN African Voices in recognition of her remarkable contributions to education, women’s empowerment, healthcare, and community development.
Renowned for blending the responsibilities of traditional royalty with modern leadership, she has become a leading voice for social impact, demonstrating that true leadership is measured by service, innovation, and the transformation of lives.
Through the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), Olori Atuwatse III has championed a series of life-changing initiatives designed to improve the welfare of women, children, and underserved communities.
Her flagship programmes, including the Teachers’ Training Programme, the Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo STEM and Innovation Lab, the Love Garden Project, and Wuwu Ore, have expanded access to quality education, healthcare, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunities for thousands across the Warri Kingdom.
She has also awarded scholarships to hundreds of children, with a strong emphasis on advancing the education of the girl-child.
Her commitment to economic inclusion further inspired the establishment of the Royal Iwere Foundation Skills Institute (RIFSI), which equips women and young people with vocational skills, scholarships, seed funding, and financial support to build sustainable livelihoods.
These interventions align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing her vision of creating resilient communities through education, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
Beyond her work in Warri, Olori Atuwatse III has emerged as a respected national and international advocate for women’s empowerment. She serves on Nigeria’s High-Level Advisory Committee on Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender, contributing to policies aimed at improving opportunities for women across the country.
Her thought leadership has also been showcased at prestigious platforms, including the Global Reputation Forum, African Achievers Awards, the USAFRICA Business Week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Lagos State Teachers Education Summit, the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, and several other global engagements, further cementing her reputation as one of Africa’s most influential royal changemakers.
The CNN African Voices Changemakers, airing from July 11 to 19, is one of CNN’s flagship programmes, spotlighting exceptional individuals who are driving positive change and making a lasting impact across the African continent through leadership, innovation, and service.