The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, and the United Arab Emirates Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, have signed a Cooperation Protocol to deepen global collaboration on peacebuilding, cultural exchange, social inclusion and shared prosperity.
The agreement was signed during the AIM Congress 2026 event themed, “World Governments as Incubators for Tolerance and Shared Growth,” with both sides seeking to strengthen dialogue among institutions and nations while promoting peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding.
The protocol was entered into by the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the Royal Iwere Foundation, an initiative of the Olu of Warri, highlighting a shared commitment to building bridges across cultures and creating societies where diversity can become a source of strength rather than division.
The Olu of Warri, who delivered a guest lecture titled, “Tolerance as a Tool for Advancing Peace, Social Cohesion and Shared Prosperity: The Case of Africa,” called for greater investment in tolerance, inclusion and dialogue as foundations for sustainable development.
The monarch said Africa has enormous potential to use tolerance and unity to drive economic growth, strengthen social cohesion and promote lasting peace across the continent.
According to him, embracing diversity and mutual respect can help reduce conflicts while creating an environment where innovation, investment and shared prosperity can thrive.
Sharing his experience in Warri, the Olu said his approach to promoting tolerance began with bringing communities within his own kingdom closer together.
“What sounds like a ceremony is governance. And once the house was stronger, we opened the field. Last month, we brought every tribe in the kingdom together for the Warri Unity Games,” he said.
He explained that the initiative brought people together through football, paintball, tug of war and a march past, giving different communities an opportunity to compete, celebrate and return home together.
The monarch noted that Warri is home to people from diverse tribal backgrounds, including the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Bini and Ilaje, among others.
He acknowledged that each community has its own history, identity and memories of grievances with neighbouring groups, some of which remained unresolved when he ascended the throne five years ago.
“I understood something from the very first day. You cannot build bridges with your neighbours while your own house is divided. So I began at home,” he said.
The Olu said he subsequently introduced initiatives within the Itsekiri communities, including a ceremony known as Ghigho Aghofen, as part of efforts to strengthen unity and reconciliation within the kingdom.
The monarch’s message at the international gathering was that tolerance must go beyond speeches and ceremonies, becoming a practical tool for resolving differences, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for shared growth.
The event was attended by the UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, government officials and leaders of international institutions, as well as the Olori of Warri, Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, who joined the royal delegation.