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.
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.
Olori Atuwatse III noted that despite the progress made over the past two decades, the number of women who have led African nations remains small. She argued that women occupying leadership positions should become a normal occurrence rather than an exception deserving special attention.
She maintained 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, stressing that women have always played critical roles in governance, commerce and nation-building.
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.
Highlighting efforts in the Warri Kingdom, the Queen Consort said 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.
She noted that true empowerment is measured not by personal success alone but by the willingness of empowered women to mentor and uplift others, adding that sustainable leadership is built on creating opportunities for the next generation rather than occupying positions of influence.
Olori Atuwatse III urged African leaders to build institutions and systems that recognise 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.
