The Warri Kingdom is situated in the heart of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta, a region whose petroleum wealth has helped fuel one of Africa’s largest economies for decades.
But many surrounding communities lack basic infrastructure, clean drinking water, schools and healthcare.
“The kingdom sadly suffers from what I call the resource curse,” the queen consort, Olori Atuwatse III, told CNN’s Larry Madowo.
“Everything is taken out, but nothing is developed.”
When Tsola Emiko ascended to the throne as Ogiame Atuwatse III, becoming the 21st “Olu” or king of Warri in 2021, he and his wife set out to reshape what a modern monarchy could look like.
