ROYAL MAJESTY MET NATIONAL DIALOGUE: OGIAME ATUWATSE III, OLOGBOTSERE EYEWUOMA AND WARRI CHIEFS LIGHT UP INAUGURAL SEYI TINUBU COLLOQUIUM IN LAGOS

LAGOS : It was royalty in motion and tradition in full splendour yesterday at the inaugural Seyi Tinubu Colloquium 2026, as His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri, made a majestic entrance that momentarily stilled the hall. Clad in Itsekiri royal regalia, adorned with Itsekiri ancestral coral beads and the confidence of a kingdom that predates colonial maps, the monarch embodied dignity of Warri Kingdom on a national stage.

Joining the Olu in that powerful cultural statement was his Ologbotsere and Chairman of the Warri Council of Chiefs, Ojoye Engr. Dr. Oritsema Eyewuoma, the Ologbotsere of Warri, alongside other high-ranking Chiefs of Warri Kingdom and a distinguished delegation of Itsekiri youth leaders, sons and daughters who thronged Lagos to affirm loyalty to the throne. The presence of the Ologbotsere, a respected oil and gas technocrat and custodian of Itsekiri tradition, portrayed the unity and hierarchy of the ancient Warri kingdom.

The Colloquium, themed “Shaping the Future Together” and holding at a prime venue in Lagos yesterday October 12, 2026, is conceived as a national platform for dialogue, innovation, leadership and collaborative nation-building. According to its conveners, it brought together policymakers, business titans, tech innovators, creatives and emerging leaders to interrogate Nigeria’s future. The 2026 edition featured heavyweights like Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, and other national icons.

What could have been a routine policy gathering turned into a cultural masterclass the moment Ogiame stepped onto the red carpet. With the soft cadence of Itsekiri royal drums imagined in the air, the Olu, the 21st Olu of Warri and a monarch globally respected and recognized for bridging tradition and modernity; reminded the audience that nation-building cannot be complete without the moral compass of traditional institutions. His entrance was not just pageantry; it was a statement.

Ojoye Eyewuoma, who has since his installation in April 2023 became the rallying point for peace, reconciliation and development in Iwere land, was seen exchanging courtesies with dignitaries, ensuring protocol for the throne. Observers noted that his leadership of the Warri Council of Chiefs to Lagos was symbolic; a demonstration that Warri Kingdom speaks with one voice under Ogiame Atuwatse III, whose reign has been defined by forgiveness, reform and visionary rebirth.

The Seyi Tinubu Colloquium, beyond its keynote conversations on youth inclusion, enterprise and digital innovation, is already shaping into a converging point for 2027 political alignments, with youth leaders, ministers, and business leaders in attendance. In that mix, the Itsekiri royal delegation stood out; with a proud reminder that heritage is not antithetical to progress, but its foundation. The keynote speaker Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina educated the audience on the topic”Youth as Economic Power”.The keynote speaker and other speakers electrified the event.

As the event streamed live to millions across the country, one message rang clear from the Warri corner: The throne of Warri is not in isolation; it is engaged, present, and contributing to the national conversation. And with the Ologbotsere by his side, Ogiame Atuwatse III showed once again why Warri Kingdom remains a proud symbol of Itsekiri culture, continuity and royal excellence.

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