Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko has been crowned the 21st Olu of Warri kingdom in Delta State on Saturday.
Gatekeepers News reports that he will be addressed as the Ogiame Atuwatse III, a title he got from his father and 19th Olu, Atuwatse II, Godwin Toritseju Emiko, according to the Itsekiri tradition.
The crowning ceremony was held at Ode Itsekiri, the ancestral home/venue for the crowning of the Olu of Warri since 1520 AD.
Gatekeepers News reports that the first Olu of Warri, Ginua was however not crowned at Itsekiri but was crowned in Ijala.
The first Olu to be crowned at Ode Itsekiri was Ijijen, the second Olu of Warri.
The ceremony was witnessed by a cross-section of Nigerians like; the Ooni of Ife, the governor of Kebbi State, the deputy governor of Edo State, a delegation of chiefs from the Benin Kingdom.
President Muhammadu Buhari was also represented by the deputy senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege, who delivered the President’s special message to the Ogiame Atuwatse III.
The Atuwatse III who was born on April 2, 1984, is a descendant of Olu Akengbuwa.
The new Olu of Warri started his early education in Warri and proceeded to Kwara State for his Secondary school.
He attended Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA where he bagged his Bachelor’s of Arts between 2002 and 2006, majoring in International Studies and Political Science while minoring in History and Economics. He got a Master’s of Science in Management also from Case Western Reserve University in 2017.
The Atuwatse III returned to Nigeria in 2008 and served in the Public Affairs Department of National Petroleum Investment Management Services for the NYSC scheme.
He worked as an officer at the Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator between 2009 to 2010, and at Sahara Energy as Government Relations Officer between 2010 and 2012.
The Olu of Warri is the founder Noble Nigeria Ltd. and Coral Curator Ltd. He is also the Chairman of Ocean Marine Security Ltd. and Director, Gulf of Guinea Ltd. and Vessel link Big. Ltd.
He is married to Ivie Uhunoma Emiko, daughter of popular Edo business magnet, late Idahosa Okunbor. The couple are blessed with three children; Oritsetsemiaye, Oritsetemisan, and Oritsetimeyin.
