His Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III
Elegbede Abiodun
His Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, will deliver the keynote at the 2026 African Development Conference (ADC), holding April 17–18 at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Law School. Organized by the Harvard African Law Association, the event will convene global leaders and scholars under the theme “Reclaiming Africa’s Agency in a New Global Order.”
His selection highlights the growing global recognition of traditional African leadership in shaping governance and development. The Monarch will speak on “A New Era of Leadership in Africa: Value, Institutions, and Influence,” addressing how Africa can strengthen institutional frameworks to assert greater global influence.
As leader of the Itsekiri people, His Majesty champions strong institutions, cultural preservation, and a future-focused leadership model aligned with Africa’s evolving standing.
Other key participants include Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization; Dr. Sidi Would Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group; Her Excellency Ameenah Gurib Fakim, former President of Mauritius; Serge Ekue, Board Chairperson of the West African Development Bank; and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele.
The two-day hybrid conference will move beyond rhetoric through policy labs and roundtables aimed at producing actionable frameworks for African agency. For Warri kingdom, His Majesty’s keynote affirms that traditional leadership remains vital to Africa’s new era.
