Olori Ivie Atuwatse III is known as the Queen of the Warri Kingdom and wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the current king of the Warri Kingdom and the 21st Olu of Warri. Beyond her title, she is a lawyer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a strong advocate for women’s empowerment.
Here are some interesting things to know about her.
1. She was born Aiyivieruewinoya “Ivie” Uhunoma Okunbo on May 22, 1986, in Lagos.
2. Her father, Captain Hosa Wells Okunbo, was a Nigerian billionaire business magnate, investor, and philanthropist.
3. Her primary education began at Avi-Cenna International School, Ikeja, before attending Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls briefly for her secondary education. She moved to London, where she attended the renowned St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, Kent, England.
4. She has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2010.
5. She is a member of the CIARB Nigeria and has certifications from the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce and the Chambers of Maritime.
6. Her early experience with entrepreneurship began when she founded a fashion label, Colour Couture, which she co-founded with a friend while at the university in the UK, and Breakfast in Bed, a first-of-its-kind breakfast delivery company in Lagos, Nigeria, which she established after graduation.
7. She leads the Royal Iwere Foundation, the humanitarian arm of the Warri Kingdom monarchy, which houses initiatives targeted at women, the elderly, and children, including
- The EstablishHER program, which offers grants and mentoring for female entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
- The RIF Climate Action Club, which empowers young minds with climate literacy.
- The Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo Stem Innovation Center, Iyara, which she established alongside her siblings in honour of their father in May 2022, for orphaned, indigent children.
- Wuwu Ore, a free medical and welfare outreach, launched in 2021. It is focused on women, children, and the elderly.
- The Olori Atuwatse III’s Love Gardens, created to nurture growth, unity, and hope for a greener tomorrow.
Some of her other advocacy projects include the following:
- Scholarship scheme for 100 children from the Nana Model Girls College, Warri, Delta State.
- Founder of Abba’s Jewels, a community of over 60 women who, together, raise funds to impact the community through outreaches, food drives, and hospital and prison visits.
- A visit to the Ureju Community, an oil-rich slum suffering the effects of environmental degradation, and Iyara, another slum community, in 2022.
8. She is the co-founder of Elevate Africa, a program designed to nurture young leaders with funding, mentorship, and access to global networks. She is also the president of RIG Africa, a prophetic training organization.
9. She sits on the boards of the Wells Property Development Company, the Wells Carlton, and Wells Bakehouse.
10. In September 2024, she achieved an historic feat when she presented the Bible in the Itsekiri language alongside her husband to the World Museum of the Bible in the United States.
11. She became the first African queen to receive the Freedom of the City of London in October 2024.
12. She loves to write and has many published and unpublished books to her name.
13. Olori Atuwatse III married Ogiame Atuwatse III in November 2014. They have three children.
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