Olori Ivie Atuwatse III (née Okunbo) was born to the humble yet illustrious family of Captain Dr Idahosa Wells Okunbo and Edamwen Evelyn Okunbo on May 22, 1986, at the Finnih Medical Centre, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
She was raised in love and on the cardinal principles of diligence, education, and integrity; attributes her parents took great pride in inculcating. As a child, young Ivie developed the prominent traits of a ‘fixer’. She often told her parents and teachers that she wanted to be a nurse so she could make people feel better and happier upon contact.
Enamoured by the arts, advocacy, business, leadership, and music, young Ivie spent a great deal of her time nose-deep in volumes of literature dutifully purchased by her astute parents.
She even developed a momentary flair for playing the piano but her enthusiasm for dancing and singing continued into adulthood.
Olori’s early education began at Avi-Cenna International School.
In the mid-90s, she commenced secondary education. She spent a year as a boarder in Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls before proceeding to the renowned St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, Kent, England. At St Lawrence College, Olori Atuwatse III formed some of her fondest memories. She fell in love with the school’s ambiance and embraced the institution’s culture which shaped her passion for purposeful engagement in both curricular and extracurricular activities.
In her penultimate year, the entrepreneurial spirit of her parents began to find expression. she rose within the ranks to lead ‘Enigma’, the college’s Young Enterprise chapter – a national charity that coaches young people to succeed in the changing world of work by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive.
During her leadership tenure, Enigma participated in local championships and emerged as regional champions
Olori Aiyivieruewinoya ‘Ivie’ Emiko-Atuwatse, known as Olori Atuwatse III, Queen of the Warri Kingdom, is a visionary with a heart for humanity, social enterprise, education, and capacity building for women and children.
A qualified lawyer with an LLB from the London School of Economics, she was called to the Nigerian bar in 2010. She is a member of the CIARB Nigeria and has certifications from the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce and Chambers of Maritime.
She has a strong entrepreneurial drive and has founded several businesses across industries. From the fashion label, Colour Couture, which she co-founded with a friend while at the university, to Breakfast in Bed, a first-of-its-kind breakfast delivery company in Lagos, Nigeria, which she established after graduation. She sits on the boards of the Wells Property Development Company, the Wells Carlton, and Wells Bakehouse, and is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to create value through enterprise.
Beyond enterprise, Olori Ivie has a passion for coaching young people and mentoring them at various learning phases with practical skills, through education and vocational training.
A dedicated philanthropist, she is the founder of Abba’s Jewels, a community of over 60 women who, together, raise funds to impact the community through outreaches, food drives, hospital, and prison visits. She also convened The Love Drive, a free yard sale that started in Lagos, Nigeria. As the President of RIG Africa, a prophetic training organisation, she trains people to hear God for themselves in ways that are practical and applicable to everyday life and work.
Being a mother whose heart pants for the healing and revival of the Iwere people, Olori Atuwatse III has established initiatives targeted at alleviating poverty, illiteracy, and infant mortality in the Warri Kingdom.
One of such initiatives is Wuwu Ore, officially founded in 2021 with the primary aim of providing free healthcare, education, and skilling for indigent children in the remotest parts of the kingdom, as well as empowerment, sensitisation and training for women and youth in the communities to improve living conditions and trigger socio- economic development.
The Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo STEM and Innovation Lab is another initiative by the Queen in partnership with CleverMinds Educational Foundation.
The initiative located in Iyara Community will groom orphans and indigent children in Warri and environs to reach their full potentials by exposing them to the innovative world of STEM-based quality education, entrepreneurial skills, and psychosocial support.
The community also houses the Love Garden project recently launched by Olori Atuwatse III, which explores innovative means of cultivating and growing vegetables and other crops, teaching the children the importance of food economy from a tender age.
The Queen is also set to host the maiden edition of the Iwere Green Conference, a programme that seeks to further demystify mental health conditions and advocate better care and support for patients and survivors alike.
A builder at heart, Olori Atuwatse III is determined to leave a legacy of education and empowerment in the Iwere Kingdom, Nigeria, and beyond. In her words, ‘Seeming failure does not disqualify you. It is just an indication that you’re going in the wrong direction and that it’s time to learn something new’. She is happily married to her husband and king, His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and together they have three beautiful children, Oritsetsemiaye, Oritsetemisan, and Oritsetimeyin.
MEDIA LINKS/REFERENCES
Partnership with CleverMinds Educational Foundation
https://thenationonlineng.net/olu-of-warris-wife-visits-delta-slum-community-prays-for- pupils/
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/02/olori-atuwatse-iii-advocates-best-form-of- education/
Launch of Wuwu Ore Initiative
https://dailytrust.com/olori-atuwatse-launches-free-healthcare-in-delta https://independent.ng/olu-of-warri-organises-free-medicare-for-citizens/
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/12/500-people-receive-free-healthcare-services-in- warri/
https://newsdayonline.com.ng/olori-atuwatse-iii-launches-wuwu-orefree-healthcare- initiative-in-delta-state/
https://newsbarng.com/2021/12/12/olori-atuwatse-iii-launches-wuwu-ore-free-healthcare- initiative-in-delta-state/
Others
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/monarch-bequeath-enduring-educational-legacy- in-warri-kingdom/