Olori Atuwatse III’s of Warri kingdom leads youthrallies against substance abuse in Niger Delta
On Tuesday, 19th August 2025, Her Royal Majesty’s Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF) convened the second edition of the Wuwu Ore Substance Abuse Rally, drawing the people of the Niger Delta together under the urgent theme: “The Socio-Economic Impact of Substance Abuse among the Youths in the Niger Delta.” Held at the Rice Farm, off Esisi Road in Warri, the rally was not merely an event but a resounding call to conscience, aligning with the 4th Coronation Anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR.
This second edition of the Warri Beyond Drugs campaign was a landmark in the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding its youth and future generations, underscoring the painful reality that substance abuse is no longer a marginal issue but a destructive force corroding health, diminishing economic productivity, and threatening the promise of the region’s future leaders.
In her stirring keynote, Her Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, Visioner of the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), spoke with conviction about the urgency of confronting this scourge. She reminded the audience that
addiction is not a private shame but a communal wound that erodes family dignity, disrupts social stability, and undermines the fabric of collective progress. “Substance abuse seeks to silence potential, derail purpose, and fracture communities. But we are here to proclaim that our young people are greater than these chains. We must equip them not only with the courage to say no, but with the tools to live lives of vision, discipline, and productivity. This is how we will secure the Niger Delta’s future,” she declared.
A significant highlight of the rally was the recognition of 15-year-old Miss Jessy Oritsetseyigbemi McCarthy, who was honoured by Her Royal Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, in recognition of her emergence as the Overall Winner of the NDLEA Inter-School Essay Competition. This moment served as an inspiring
reminder that even at a young age, voices of courage, creativity, and conviction can play a defining
role in the fight against substance abuse.
A chorus of powerful voices carried the rally’s momentum: The Nigerian Youth Service Corps and Nigerian Christian Corpers’ Fellowship, Warri South LGA, delivered a masterpiece drama presentation on the ill effects of substance abuse, after which Dr Onyi Owa-Nwabuzo, Specialist Public Health
Physician, exposed the devastating intersection of mental health struggles and substance dependency,
particularly within underprivileged communities. Mr Destiny Noritsegho, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Warri Chapter, further reiterated Her Majesty’s speech in his address, “From Stigma to Support: Community-Driven Rehabilitation and Empowerment Initiatives for Former Substance
Abusers. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) highlighted the perilous nexus between
drug use, poverty, and crime, while personal testimonies, none more moving than the story of recovery
shared by Pastor Julie, reminded all present that healing, transformation, and restoration are possible.
The presence of local government leaders from Warri South, Warri North, Warri South West, Sapele,
and Patani further amplified the rally’s significance. Together, these chairmen, led by the Delta State Association of Local Governments of Nigeria Chairman, Chief Honourable Isaiah Esiovwa, JP, pledged to replicate the Wuwu Ore model within their jurisdictions, signalling a shared commitment to grassroots prevention, rehabilitation, and community renewal.
Closing the rally with a charge to action, Dr Utake Ovwe, Project Lead of Wuwu Ore, urged young people to reject despair and take bold steps towards healing: “Every young man and woman who chooses recovery is a beacon of resilience. This movement is about rewriting stories from silence to advocacy, and stigma to strength. We want our youth to know that there is hope, they matter, and Niger Delta stands with them.”
Reflecting on the wider impact, Ogechukwuabiago Ezeobiorah, Chief Operations Officer of the Royal
Iwere Foundation, emphasised the campaign’s place within the Foundation’s holistic mission: “Warri Beyond Drugs 2.0 is not an isolated intervention but part of our larger strategy to strengthen communities by addressing vulnerabilities at their root. Substance abuse is both a health crisis and a socio-economic crisis, and tackling it requires compassion, collaboration, and sustained commitment. At RIF, we are determined to ensure that this fight does not end with a rally, but continues as a movement for transformation across the Niger Delta. Many thanks to the Nathaniel Moses Foundation for Voiceless Children for partnering with us for this edition of the Warri Beyond Drugs Campaign.”
Significantly, more than 20 young people have already taken the first step towards transformation and are set to commence their rehabilitation journey in the coming weeks. Their courage stands as a living
testament to the rally’s message that from stigma can come strength, and from despair, new
beginnings.
Wuwu Ore 2.0 thus concluded not as an isolated event but as the heartbeat of a movement, a collective resolve to see Warri, and indeed the Niger Delta, rise beyond drugs and safeguard the destiny
of its youth.
Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF) is the humanitarian arm of Their Royal Majesties, Ogiame Atuwatse III,
CFR, 21st Olu of Warri and Olori Atuwaste III, Queen Consort. RIF is a strategic rethink by the Warri
Kingdom Monarchy to develop the human capital potential of its people by addressing the socio-economic needs through providing Indigenous and collaborative solutions. RIF is dedicated to effectively tackling obstacles and vulnerabilities that could hinder the Kingdom’s continuous development and its capacity to compete internationally through targeted SDG-oriented initiatives.
