His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, has shared his vision to empower the Itsekiri youth body and equip them for leadership roles both within the Warri Kingdom and on the broader national stage.
The Warri monarch spoke at the Lagos Leadership Summit 2025, themed “Transformative Leadership: Developing Responsive, Adaptive, and Inclusive Models,”.
Speaking at the summit which brought together top leaders, policymakers, and traditional rulers from across Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos, the revered monarch emphasized the importance of empowering young people with the voice and platform needed to emerge as future leaders for broader national development.
“We are doing our best, without shaking things too much, to open doors for young people,” Ogiame said. “It’s a breath of fresh air for them to come and demonstrate what is in them.”
Olu Atuwatse III revealed ongoing efforts within Warri Kingdom to create a sustainable leadership framework for young people, promising to provide more opportunities for them to showcase their talents and leadership potential.
Beyond youth development, the monarch also stressed the importance of infrastructure in tackling poverty. Quoting a Chinese proverb, he underscored how road development can be a catalyst for lifting communities out of hardship.
“If all our roads were perfectly done; a national highway like a wheel, just leave Nigerians to themselves. You will be amazed, I believe that,” he said, calling for strong political will to pursue aggressive infrastructure projects nationwide.
On education, the Warri monarch proposed a radical national policy that mandates schooling for all Nigerian children from birth to age 23. He suggested a model similar to the NYSC scheme, where students are required to study in states other than their own, encouraging cross-cultural understanding and national unity.
The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Former Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola, and several royal fathers such as HRH Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli CFR, Emir of Zazzau, and Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal Abisogun II, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom.
The summit served as a platform for dialogue on responsive governance, inclusive leadership, and long-term strategies for national development.
