Five years after ascending the throne of his ancestors, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, is set to host Itsekiris from across Nigeria and the diaspora for a 10-day celebration designed to showcase the kingdom’s cultural renaissance, unity and transformation.
The anniversary, themed “Global Homecoming: Celebrating Our Cultural Renaissance, Unity and Transformational Progress,” will run from August 14 to 23, 2026, with the organisers describing it as a significant milestone in the Olu’s vision of reconnecting Itsekiris at home and abroad while positioning Warri Kingdom for a new era of development.
The anniversary is also expected to receive high-profile guests from the Federal and Delta State governments, traditional rulers and other dignitaries, while the Federal Government is partnering with the kingdom on tourism development, investment and youth empowerment.
Speaking at a press conference at the Palace of the Olu of Warri yesterday, the Chairman of the Warri Council of Chiefs and Oversight Committee, Chief (Dr.) Engr. Oma Eyewuoma, said the anniversary was a fulfilment of the monarch’s earlier call for Itsekiris worldwide to return home and identify with their ancestral kingdom.
The statement, which was read by the Ogwolusan of Warri, Chief Brown Mene, said the anniversary represented “half a decade of a vision built on peace, innovation and global renaissance.”
It said the monarch’s call for a global homecoming was intended to create room for Itsekiris in the diaspora to reconnect with the kingdom and contribute to its growth.
The celebration, according to the committee, would combine royal ceremonies with community engagements, cultural exhibitions and sporting activities, including a Royal Boat Regatta, Bike and Scooter Competition, Itsekiri Language Competition, football and the Warri Unity Games.
The Unity Games, in particular, is expected to underscore the kingdom’s message of inclusion and peaceful coexistence, as participation extends beyond the Itsekiri community to residents and neighbouring ethnic groups living in Warri and its environs.
The organisers said the initiative was based on the recognition that Warri is a diverse Nigerian city where different communities have lived and interacted over the years, stressing the need to use sports and cultural activities to strengthen bonds.
A major highlight of the anniversary is the kingdom’s emerging emphasis on youth development and the digital economy.
The committee said the Olu recognised that “the future of Warri Kingdom lies in its youths,” leading to the establishment of the Iwere Innovation Hub, designed to promote digital literacy, software engineering and entrepreneurship among young people.
According to the statement, the initiative reflects a deliberate shift under the Olu’s leadership “from crude oil to thriving digital economy,” as the kingdom seeks to broaden its economic opportunities beyond dependence on the oil industry.
The Federal Government’s partnership with Warri Kingdom is expected to further strengthen that transition.
The committee disclosed that the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy had established a strategic partnership with the kingdom to leverage the anniversary for global tourism development, investment and youth empowerment.
The 10-day programme begins on Friday, August 14, with a Praise Day at Nana College, Warri, followed by the Warri Unity Games at Federal Government College, Warri, on August 15.
Other activities include the Grand Finale Bini Riva Live at Oboghoro; Bike and Scooter Competition and Itsekiri Language Competition at Ode-Itsekiri; four days of homage-paying; the Royal Boat Regatta; a football match and a thanksgiving service.
The organisers said there would also be massive cultural displays, exhibitions of family heirlooms and homage-paying by communities across the kingdom.
Chiefs present at the press conference included Chief Brown Mene, Chief Gabriel Awala, the Uwangue of Warri Kingdom; Chief (Engr.) Tony Onuwaje, the Oshodin; Chief Eugene Ikomi, Secretary, Warri Council of Chiefs and Olulaye; Chief (Mrs.) Esther Okotie-Eboh, the Iye; Chief Elijah Temile, the Olujuwa; Chief Tsuwa Oyemami, the Ikaye; Chief Walter Boyo, the Osenoluete; Chief (Hon.) Daniel Reyenieju, the Ojogun; and Chief (Dr.) Anthony Akoji, the Arun-Igala.
The anniversary, the committee said, is ultimately intended to turn the monarch’s five-year reign into a platform for deeper unity, cultural revival and economic renewal, while inviting Itsekiris at home and abroad to reconnect with their roots and contribute to the future of Warri Kingdom.
