The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri City is one of the major hubs of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. It is a commercial capital city of Delta State, with a population of over 311,970 people in 2006. The city is indigenous territory of Urhobo, itsekiri and Ijaw people.
The Itsekiri are one of the Yoruboid subgroup of Nigeria's Niger Delta area, Delta State. The Itsekiris presently number 2.7 million people and live mainly in the Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West local government districts of Delta State on the Atlantic coast of Nigeria. Significant communities of Itsekiris can be found in parts of Edo and Ondo states and in various other Nigerian cities including Lagos, Benin City, Port Harcourt and Abuja. Many people of Itsekiri descent also reside in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. The Itsekiris are closely related to the Yoruba of South Western Nigeria and also close to the Okpe people and Edo peoples. The Itsekiris traditionally refer to their land as the Kingdom of Warri or 'Iweerr' as its proper name – which is geographically contiguous to the area covered by the three Warri local government districts. The area is a key centre of Nigeria's crude oil and natural gas production and petroleum refining and the main town Warri forms the industrial and commercial nucleus of the Delta State region.
The Itsekiri language is a major branch of the Yoruboid group of languages, which as a group, is a key member of the Volta–Niger sub-family of the Niger–Congo family of African languages. Itsekiri is spoken by nearly 900,000 people in Nigeria as a first language and by many others as an additional language notably in the Niger Delta and in parts of Edo and Ondo states of Nigeria. The other key members of the Yoruboid group are Yoruba and Igala along with the various Yoruba dialects spoken in Benin and Togo.
Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria. Although they do not have formal political power, in many cases they continue to command respect from their people and have considerable influence.
The Kingdom of Warri, Warri Kingdom or Iwere Kingdom, was established in 1480, was part of the Nigerian traditional states based in the city of Warri in Delta State, Nigeria.
Ayiri Emami is a Nigerian businessman, politician, and philanthropist who is the chairman and chief executive officer of A & E group, a company with investments in oil and gas, construction, haulage, entertainment and the hospitality industry.
Reyenieju Oritsegbubemi Daniel is a 3rd-term member of the House of Representatives, Nigerian National Assembly. Born into the families of Pa George and Mrs. Elizabeth Reyenieju, both of Warri kingdom. Reyenieju is a man whose past and present transcend ethnic barriers.
Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko was a Nigerian traditional ruler.
Olu Ijijen (Ogbowuru) was born to Olu Ginuwa. He is the 2nd Olu of Warri. He succeeded his father Ogiame Olu Ginuwa. He was the first King to reach Ode-Itsekiri as his father settled down at Ijala community which is the burial place for all future Olu's. He reigned from 1510 to 1538. He was succeeded by his brother Olu Irame.
Olu Ojoluwa was an Itsekiri traditional ruler. He succeeded his father Ogiame, Olu Irame after his demise. He was crowned Ogiame Ojoluwa, the 4th Olu of Warri Kingdom at Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of the Itsekiri. Olu Ojoluwa reigned for about nineteen years from about 1550 to 1569. During his reign, he commenced the process of integration of Ekpen's (Ekpenede) descendants of Okere with the local population in the kingdom.
Olu Atuwatse I was the 7th Olu of Warri who ruled over the Warri Kingdom. He was the son to Olu Atorongboye and succeeded his father Olu Atorongboye as the 7th Olu of Warri. He was initially home schooled by his father and the Bishop in Ode-Itsekiri, which resulted in him being able to read and write in Portuguese. He was educated in Portugal from 1600 to 1611. He returned to Warri Kingdom as a graduate, making him the first graduate in Sub Saharan Africa Olu Dom Domingos was the second Christian Olu to rule Warri Kingdom. He married a Portuguese lady before returning to Nigeria with her in 1611.
Olu Omagboye was the 12th Olu of Warri who ruled over the Kingdom of Warri. He succeeded his father, Olu Akenjoye as the 12th Olu of Warri. He took the title, Ogiame Omagboye. His son Olu Akengboye succeeded him.
Olu Erejuwa was the 15th Olu of Warri who ruled over the Kingdom of Warri. He succeeded Olu Atogbuwa as the 15th Olu of Warri. He took the title, Ogiame Erejuwa I. His Portuguese name was Sebastiao Manuel Octobia. When he went to be with his fathers, he was succeeded by Olu Akengbuwa around 1795.
Olu Akengbuwa was the 16th Olu of Warri who ruled over the Kingdom of Warri. He succeeded his father Olu Erejuwa I as the 16th Olu of Warri. He took the title, Ogiame Akengbuwa. He was also called Eyeolusan Joao. When he went to be with his fathers, there was a period of crisis following the death to the potential successors which was followed by a period of political Interregnum. His son Prince Oritsemone left Ode-Itsekiri during the period of the crisis to form Usele Community.
Olu Ginuwa II was a Nigerian traditional title holder and paramount leader of the Itsekiri who was Olu of Warri from 1936 to 1949. He was the 17th Olu of Warri Kingdom with the title Ogiame Ginuwa II. He was born Emiko Ikengbuwa. He succeeded his grandfather Olu Akengbuwa as Olu of Warri after an interregnum that lasted 88 years when Warri's political leadership was dominated by merchant princes.
Olu Atuwatse II was a Nigerian traditional title holder and paramount leader of the Itsekiri who was Olu of Warri from 1987 to 2015. He was the 19th Olu of Warri Kingdom with the title Ogiame Atuwatse II. He was born Godwin Toritseju Emiko. He succeeded his father Erejuwa II as the Olu of Warri. He was a lawyer by profession and was a recipient of the Commander of the Niger (CON) award from the Nigerian Government. He died in 2015 and was succeeded by his brother Ikenwoli.
Ode-Itsekiri is a community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. It is also called Itsekiri-Olu and Big Warri. It is the ancestral home of the Itsekiri people and one of the first autonomous communities before the crowning of the Olu Ginuwa. It existed long before 1480, with exact data not known. The Olu's Palace in Ode-Itsekiri has always been used to crown the Olu of Warri Kingdom, while the Kings are buried at Ijala-Ikenren Community.
Ogiame Atuwatse III is a Nigerian traditional king, paramount ruler of the Kingdom of Warri, and the 21st Olu of Warri. He was born Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, also known as Tsola Emiko on 2 April 1984 to Olu Atuwatse II, the 19th Olu of Warri and Gladys Durorike Emiko in Warri. He is also a descendant of Olu Akengbuwa.
Olori Aiyivieruewinoya "Ivie" Emiko-Atuwatse, known as Olori Atuwatse III, is Queen of the Warri Kingdom, a lawyer, social entrepreneur and wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, current ruler of the Kingdom of Warri, and the 21st Olu of Warri. She is also the daughter of Nigerian business magnate, investor and philanthropist Captain Hosa Wells Okunbo. After his coronation in August 2021, the Olu of Warri bestowed a new title on his wife, calling her Olori Atuwatse III, now her official title.
Omadino Community is an indigenous Itsekiri urban community in Warri Kingdom. The people of Omadino are the descendants of Nenuwa, the legendary ancestor and founder of the Omadino community who migrated with his followers from Ode in the Ijebu kingdom following their unsuccessful bid for the throne of the Ijebu kingdom. Omadino Community is one of the oldest communities in the Warri Kingdom having existed before the formation of the Warri Kingdom in 1480. Omadino Community is one of the biggest communities in the Warri Kingdom as it falls under Warri South with extensions to Warri North and Warri South-West. It is located in Warri South Local Government Area of present-day Delta State, Nigeria.
Nigeria 
