The Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, has called for a new era of trust, collaboration, and coordinated leadership across Africa, urging nations to move from isolation to partnership in shaping what she termed “Africa: The Next Chapter”
Addressing dignitaries and leaders at the Elevate Africa Conference in Gaborone, Olori Atuwatse III began by honouring His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, and welcoming distinguished guests including the representative of Botswana’s President Duma Boko, former and current African leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps.
She lauded Botswana for embodying “quiet competence and continental ambition,” saying the nation’s governance and stability make it the ideal venue for the convening.
Reflecting on Africa’s interconnected destiny, the Queen Consort noted that developments in one country inevitably impact others, citing examples such as Nigeria’s refining progress, Rwanda’s environmental policies, and Ethiopia’s energy initiatives.
“Africa, though separated by borders, is deeply interconnected in values, in culture, and in shared humanity. Our economies breathe together. Our futures are intertwined,” she noted. She emphasised that the continent’s transformation requires a mindset shift from fragmented national perspectives to a unified African identity.
“When ‘I am African’ carries the same weight as any national identity, we will unlock the foundation for true continental prosperity,” she declared.
Celebrating Botswana’s support for Elevate Africa’s mission, she revealed the strides made since the previous year’s conference in Abuja. Key among them was the Elevate Africa Fellowship, a nine-month leadership programme uniting 17 Fellows from 13 African countries across Nigeria, Mauritius, and Botswana.
She praised the Fellows as “our greatest investment,” calling them living proof of Africa’s collaborative potential. She also highlighted growing trust and collaboration among African nations, pointing to achievements such as Nigeria’s refined fuel exports to the United States, Namibia’s historic election of a female president and vice president, and COMESA’s advancement of local-currency trade. These, she said, demonstrate Africa’s readiness to lead globally.
“Trust is the bedrock of growth. Governments must trust their people, people must trust their governments, and nations must trust nations.”
She warned that without such trust, Africa risks repeating the mistakes of past empires brilliant in isolation but vulnerable through disunity.
Olori further described the initiative as a movement linking policy, capital, and culture.
“We convene to connect the right people; we equip to strengthen capacity, and we broadcast to shift the narrative from potential to proof,” she said. She urged participants of the convening to join and co-author the Gaborone Communiqué in guiding actions until the next conference.
“When the world reads our next chapter, may they say Africa dared to trust; Africa believed together, Africa wrote together, and Africa built together.”
