Manny Ita –
Her Royal Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, presided over the graduation of 108 women entrepreneurs from the inaugural cohort of the EstablishHER Entrepreneurship Academy on Friday in Warri, Delta State. During the ceremony, the Olori announced the launch of a N150 million micro-business fund specifically dedicated to supporting women-led enterprises across the South-South region. The event also marked the induction of 208 new participants into the second cohort of the program, which is organized by the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), the humanitarian arm of the Warri Kingdom monarchy.
The initiative is designed to transition underserved women from informal petty trading into sustainable small and medium-scale businesses through a six-month curriculum. Speaking as the Visioner and CEO of RIF, Olori Atuwatse III emphasized that the program focuses on identity transformation and confidence building in addition to technical business training. “When a woman begins to see herself differently, everything about her possibilities begins to change. EstablishHER was created to help women rediscover their worth, their strength, and their capacity to build something meaningful not only for themselves but for their families and communities,” she stated.
The academy operates through three progressive stages—EstablishHER, UpscaleHER, and UnleashHER—covering mindset development, trauma healing, branding, and financial management. According to the foundation, the program has impacted over 5,550 women and supported more than 1,700 businesses since its inception, with participants active in sectors such as agribusiness, fashion, and digital commerce. Ogechukwu Ezeobiorah, Chief Operations Officer of RIF, noted the long-term goals of the project, saying, “EstablishHER is not simply about training women to start businesses.
It is about nurturing resilient leaders who can build enduring enterprises. When women are empowered with the right mindset, skills and support systems, the ripple effect of that empowerment is felt across entire communities.”
Project Lead Joshua Eze highlighted the personal growth observed among the graduates, remarking, “Watching these women evolve from uncertainty to confidence has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this work. Today’s graduation is not the end of their journey. It is the beginning of something much greater.” As part of the ceremony, five outstanding entrepreneurs—Clinton Diseye, Angela Irikefe, Emekarhe Eseyoma Tessy, Esubi Alice John, and Ezewu Rukevwe Anabel—were honored with special awards and N1 million grants each to expand their respective operations.
Representing the graduating class, valedictorian Eyetomewo Eyituoyo Gift described the experience as a turning point for the participants. “Many of us came in with ideas and uncertainty. Today, we leave with knowledge, courage and a community of women who believe in one another. EstablishHER has given us the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to pursue those dreams,” she said.
The foundation also presented the RIF Star Volunteer Awards to Obi Joy Chidinma, Juliet Ewuzie Chinelo, Ogilo Christabel Utseoritselaju, and Lemuel Ifuwe for their roles in delivering the program. RIF confirmed that graduates will maintain access to mentorship and growth opportunities through an alumni network as the academy continues to scale its impact across the Niger Delta.
