September 16, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
Her Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, recently visited several Itsekiri riverine communities, donating essential items and food to residents.
The Queen Consort’s philanthropic trip, which took place despite inclement weather, aimed to support communities lacking basic social amenities and educational resources.
According to Olori Atuwatse III, the visit reinforced her commitment to investing in human capital development, sustainable education, and skill acquisition.
Sharing her experience on Instagram, the Queen Consort expressed her deep connection with the people and their resilience.
She said, “As we travelled by boat on a courtesy visit to four of our riverine Itsekiri communities along the Warri and Benin Rivers, I couldn’t help but reflect on my deep connection with our people. Over the years, I have made it a paramount responsibility to visit our people in the riverine communities occasionally, and this is just one of many such trips.
“The rain poured down relentlessly for eight hours, but it only seemed to fuel the fire in my heart. Despite the weather, we were joyfully welcomed-mothers, children, youth, and men stood together, braving the rain to greet us with open arms and warm smiles.
“Seeing the faces of those who welcomed us reminded me again why this work matters. Many of these communities lack basic social amenities and educational resources, and the shortage of teachers is a challenge we can no longer afford to overlook. Yet, what struck me most was the hope in their eyes-their readiness for change, for opportunities to improve their livelihood.
“This visit has renewed my conviction to do more-to inves in our people, with a continued focus on human capital development, and create pathways for sustainable education and skill acquisition. I want every child to have the chance to learn, every youth to feel empowered, and every mother to have the tools to build a better future”
She concluded by saying the visit helps her connect more to her people in the riverine area and hope to do more in the future
“These visits are truly inspiring. I love connecting with our people where they are, and I hope to do more in the years to come” she added.
