The Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, has called for increased participation of women in leadership across Africa, saying the continent can no longer afford to exclude half of its talent from decision-making at a time of growing economic, political and social challenges.
She mentioned that Africa’s history is rich with examples of influential female leaders, including Queen Amina of Zaria, the Omu of Ossomari in Delta State and Senegal’s Ndaté Yalla Mbodj, emphasizing that women have always played critical roles in governance, commerce and nation-building.
Speaking at the Amujae High-Level Leadership Forum in Senegal, the Warri Queen praised former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for inspiring generations of African women, describing her as a transformational leader who not only broke barriers but has continued to mentor and create opportunities for other women to assume leadership positions.
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According to her, Africa’s current leadership, economic and climate challenges require the collective intelligence and contributions of both men and women insisting that empowering women is not merely a concession to gender equality but a strategic necessity for the continent’s development and global competitiveness.
Queen Consort also mentioned that her EstablishHER initiative has empowered thousands of women through mentorship, counselling and enterprise development, while the Women Allying Women (WAW) Network promotes intergenerational mentorship to prepare more women for leadership roles across Africa.
Olori Atuwatse III therefore urged African leaders to build institutions and systems that recognize and invest in women’s leadership, expressing confidence that the continent would achieve faster development when women are no longer viewed as exceptions in leadership but as equal partners in shaping Africa’s future.
