The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has reiterated his strong belief in youth empowerment as a vital catalyst for sustainable economic growth and development across Africa. He emphasized the need to equip young people with cultural African values, leadership skills, and entrepreneurial knowledge to drive meaningful progress on the continent.
Ogiame Atuwatse III made this assertion in Warri on Wednesday during a dinner held in honor of the 2025 Elevate Africa Fellowship, a network of young, vibrant, and innovative minds drawn from selected African countries. The fellows, who have been touring various states in Nigeria, are on an educational and cultural exchange to explore business prospects and cultural heritage in partner nations.
Earlier in the day, the Elevate Africa Fellows paid homage to the monarch at his palace, Aghofen, where they were treated to a rich cultural display of the Iwere Kingdom and presented gifts to the revered traditional ruler.
Speaking at the dinner at his Warri residence, Ogiame Atuwatse III stressed that no nation can achieve meaningful progress without a well-structured and deliberate youth empowerment program that integrates Africa’s unique environment and cultural heritage.
“It is imperative to bring people to Warri Kingdom so they can identify with our heritage and experience aspects of our culture that symbolize African identity,” the monarch stated.
Her Royal Majesty, Olori Ogiame Atuwatse III, welcomed the Elevate Africa Fellowship members, acknowledging them as ambassadors of their respective countries. She emphasized the importance of cultural identity, stating:
“As the founder of Elevate Africa, it is important to bring these young leaders to Warri Kingdom and expose them to our rich culture. Our culture is our identity; if you don’t know who you are, you don’t know your identity.”
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Elevate Africa Fellowship, Daniel Ikuenobe, described Elevate Africa as a social impact organization initiated by His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III. He highlighted the organization’s collaboration with media and development partners, including the Royal Iwere Foundation, which is run by Her Royal Majesty Olori Ogiame Atuwatse III.
He clarified that while the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF) focuses on empowerment, environmental sustainability, and education within Warri and its environs, Elevate Africa operates on a broader scale, focusing on leadership, trade, investment, and cultural heritage across the continent.
“We have come together as a group to identify and nurture career leaders across Africa to drive transformative change,” Ikuenobe said.
Bola Edward, CEO and Co-founder of Proud Africa Root, a partner of the Elevate Africa Fellowship, emphasized the importance of raising future leaders through education and entertainment tailored for children and teenagers.
“We are committed to nurturing the leaders that Africa has been hoping for, and we must start from the foundation—the children,” she stated.
Other fellows, including Mohammad Bihan from Egypt, Amayan from Tunisia, and Grace Nelson from Ghana, expressed their excitement about being part of the Elevate Africa Fellowship. They reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging their expertise in education, leadership, and human capital development to drive positive transformation across Africa.
The distinguished guests, specialists in various fields of human endeavor, expressed their delight at visiting Nigeria—particularly Warri Kingdom—as part of the Elevate Africa Fellowship’s mission to empower and transform communities across the continent.
