The Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, has urged African societies to harness women’s leadership potential to drive social, economic, and political progress across the continent.
She made the call in Cape Coast, Ghana, while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Women Allying Women Conference, an initiative of Elevate Africa. The event brought together women leaders from diverse fields to discuss empowerment, collaboration, and inclusivity.
Olori Atuwatse III, who is also the founder of Elevate Africa, highlighted the leadership qualities women display daily in homes and communities, such as empathy, fiscal discipline, and strategic decision-making. She, however, lamented the underrepresentation of women in business and politics, calling it a gap that must be addressed.
“In today’s world, effective leadership requires the complementary roles of men and women,” she said, stressing the need for constitutional reforms to include more queens, mothers, and female traditional leaders in local and traditional councils.
She further described the home as a microcosm of society that shapes values and structures, noting that women are not only climbing the ladder of success but also creating opportunities for others to follow. “It is time to course-correct. I can imagine what will happen when women set the temperature of nations and shape the atmosphere of continents. Incredible things. Purely incredible things,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mrs. Maame Houadejote, commended the conference, describing it as a game changer with potential to boost both the economy and culture of Cape Coast.
