Her Royal Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, has graduated 108 women entrepreneurs from the first cohort of the EstablishHER Entrepreneurship Academy and launched a N150 million micro-business fund to support women-led businesses across the South-South region.
The graduation ceremony, held in Warri, Delta State, marked a major milestone for the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), the humanitarian arm of the Warri Kingdom monarchy, which established the programme to strengthen economic opportunities for women in the Niger Delta.
At the event, the foundation also inducted 208 new participants into Cohort 2 of the EstablishHER Entrepreneurship Academy, expanding the reach of the initiative to more aspiring women entrepreneurs across the region.
Olori Atuwatse III, who serves as the Visioner and CEO of the Royal Iwere Foundation, said the programme was intentionally designed to help women move beyond informal petty trading and build sustainable businesses capable of supporting families and communities.
According to her, EstablishHER focuses not only on business skills but also on helping women rebuild confidence and recognise their own potential.
“When a woman begins to see herself differently, everything about her possibilities begins to change,” she said.
“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.”
The newly launched N150 million EstablishHER micro-business fund is expected to provide financial support to women entrepreneurs who have completed the academy and demonstrated the potential to grow viable enterprises.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Royal Iwere Foundation to promote economic empowerment and entrepreneurship among women in the Niger Delta.
The EstablishHER Entrepreneurship Academy operates as a six-month training programme that combines business education, mentorship, access to funding and market opportunities.
Organisers explained that the academy is structured to guide participants through both personal development and enterprise growth.
Participants are taken through a progressive framework consisting of three stages — EstablishHER, UpscaleHER and UnleashHER.
The first phase focuses on identity reformation, trauma healing and mindset development, helping participants overcome personal and social barriers that often limit women in business.
The second phase builds practical enterprise skills, including branding, financial management, product development and business strategy.
The final stage concentrates on leadership development and business expansion, preparing participants to grow sustainable small and medium-scale enterprises.
Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Iwere Foundation, Ogechukwu Ezeobiorah, said the programme is designed to nurture resilient women entrepreneurs capable of creating long-term economic value.
“EstablishHER is not simply about training women to start businesses,” she said.
“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 for EstablishHER, Joshua Eze, said the transformation witnessed among the graduating participants demonstrates the impact of combining personal development with structured business training.
“Watching these women evolve from uncertainty to confidence has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this work,” he said.
“Today’s graduation is not the end of their journey. It is the beginning of something much greater.”
Participants in the programme operate across a wide range of sectors including agribusiness, fashion, trade, food processing, creative services and digital commerce.
Since the initiative began, the EstablishHER programme has impacted more than 5,550 women and supported over 1,700 businesses across communities in the Niger Delta.
During the ceremony, five outstanding entrepreneurs were also recognised for exceptional performance and commitment throughout the programme.
Each of the awardees received special recognition and a N1 million grant to support the expansion of their businesses.
The recipients include Clinton Diseye, who received the Resilience and Grit Award; Angela Irikefe, honoured with the Standard Bearer Award; Emekarhe Eseyoma Tessy, recognised as Emerging Impact Leader; Esubi Alice John, who received The Becoming Award; and Ezewu Rukevwe Anabel, awarded Enterprise Excellence.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating cohort, valedictorian Eyetomewo Eyituoyo Gift described the academy as a transformative experience that reshaped participants’ confidence and business outlook.
“Many of us came in with ideas and uncertainty,” she said.
“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.”
The foundation also recognised several volunteers who contributed to the delivery of the programme.
Obi Joy Chidinma, Juliet Ewuzie Chinelo, Ogilo Christabel Utseoritselaju and Lemuel Ifuwe received the RIF Star Volunteer Awards in appreciation of their service and commitment to supporting the initiative.
Organisers said graduates of the programme will continue to receive mentorship, community support and access to growth opportunities through the EstablishHER alumni network as they expand their businesses.
