Ogiame Atuwatse III

Ogiame Atuwatse III, born Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, commonly known as "Oritsetsola" or "Tsola" Emiko, was born on 2 April 1984 to then Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko, and Gladys Durorike Emiko (née Okunade), in the capital of the Itsekiri Kingdom, Warri, during the reign of his grandfather, the 18th Olu of Warri, Erejuwa II.[4] His mother is a member of the Yoruba ethnic group and the daughter of Oba Sijuade Okunade, the Ooni of Ife.[5] His paternal great-grandfather was Olu Ginuwa II, and he is the 16th great-grandson in a direct male line of Olu Ginuwa, the first Olu of Warri, and thus is a distant relative of the Benin Royal Family, through Ginuwa's grandfather, who was Oba Ewuare the Great of the Benin Empire.

Through his mother, he is a descendant of the Royal Dynasty of Oranmiyan, and the Ogboruu Royal House of Ile-Ife, one of the 4 ruling houses. He is a great-great grandson of Adelekan Olubuse I, the 46th Ooni of Ife, and is also thus a direct descendant of the progenitor of the Ogboruu royal house, Ooni Ogboruu, the 19th Ooni of Ife. Through Ogboruu, he is also a descendant of Ooni Lajodoogun, and his father, Ooni Lajamisan, and thus a direct descendant of the semi-legendary founders of the Yoruba people, Oranmiyan and Oduduwa.[6]He is also descended from Oranmiyan in a direct male line through his father, via the first Oba of Benin, Eweka, who was a son of Oranmiyan, and an ancestor to Olu Ginuwa and Oba Ewuare.

His father rose to the throne as the 19th Olu of Warri, Olu Atuwatse II, when Tsola was 2 years old after the death of his grandfather.[4]

He attended NNPC Primary School in Warri and Adesoye College, Offa, Kwara State for his primary and secondary education respectively. He obtained a bachelors degree in International Studies and Political Science from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA in 2006. In 2007, he obtained a master of science degree in management from the same university’s Weatherhead School of Management. [1][7]

He married Ivie Uhunoma Emiko, the daughter of Nigerian businessman Hosa Wells Okunbo, in 2014[7] and they have 3 children.[1]

Following the death of his father, Olu Atuwatse II, Emiko was presented for installation as the next Olu of Warri but was met with resistance and led to the installation of his uncle as the Ogiame Ikenwoli I. Ikenwoli however died on 21 December 2020. The Ologbotsere of Warri, Ayiri Emami who influences decision making in the line of succession objected to Emiko's ascension to the throne because of his mother's Yoruba heritage as a 1979 edict stated that the mother of the Olu of Warri must have either Itsekiri or Benin origin. This led to a political tussle amongst the chiefs but at the pronouncement of the death of Ikenwoli, Emiko was declared the Olu-designate by the high chief and this was met with celebration. Emami however referred to the declaration as null because Ikenwoli was yet to join his ancestors.[5] Few days prior to the coronation, it was reported that the 400-year-old crown of the Olu of Warri was stolen. It was however noted that this occurrence could not hinder the proceedings as multiple crowns exist.[8]