Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has advocated the creation of a standing, periodic national conference as a structural mechanism to deepen inclusive governance and strengthen national unity in Nigeria.
He made the call on Wednesday during the 100th anniversary lecture of the Yoruba Tennis Club in Onikan, Lagos, where he argued that sustained, structured national dialogue should replace the current pattern of reactive, crisis-driven engagements.
The event attracted notable personalities within the Yoruba Tennis Club, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Professor Adetokunbo Fabanwo, Dr Femi Okunu, Oluyomi Abayomi, Bolaji Cole, Olusegun Peter, as well as members of Oborevwori’s delegation.
Delivering a lecture titled “Inclusive Governance and National Unity: Lessons from Delta State for a More United Nigeria,” the governor anchored his presentation on governance experience and the urgency of national cohesion, positioning subnational leadership as a key testing ground for unity in a diverse nation.
He stated, “One of the most practical pathways towards achieving inclusive governance and strengthening national unity in Nigeria is the institutionalisation of a periodic national conference of stakeholders,” stressing that dialogue should be embedded in governance structures rather than used only in moments of instability.
Oborevwori proposed a recurring national platform involving federal and state authorities, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, and private sector representatives for what he described as “systematic review and recalibration of national priorities.”
He outlined key areas of focus for such a framework, including “assessment of inclusivity in governance, regional development audit, policy feedback loop, conflict prevention, and trust building,” insisting that implementation must be structured and measurable.
He further suggested a Decennial National Conference, thematic focus areas, an independent secretariat, and legislative backing as essential components to ensure that resolutions are actionable rather than advisory.
The governor explained that inclusive governance, as presented in his lecture, is built on “representation, participation, and safeguarding of all societal strata,” warning against reducing it to political patronage or symbolic appointments.
Drawing from his administration’s experience in Delta State, he referenced the MORE Agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security—as a practical model of inclusive governance.
According to him, the framework has supported infrastructure expansion across communities, expanded healthcare access through a scheme enrolling over 2.7 million residents, and implemented empowerment programmes benefiting more than 300,000 people.
He also emphasised balanced development, citing projects such as the Effurun-Warri flyovers and the Ughelli-Asaba road dualisation as initiatives designed to connect communities rather than serve sectional interests.
He added that healthcare investments, including MRI machines, dialysis units, and diagnostic facilities across senatorial districts, were aimed at promoting equity.
On political inclusion, Oborevwori stressed that governance should go beyond party affiliation, noting that development “transcends partisan accolades and constitutes a collective enterprise,” while urging unity after elections.
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He also linked national cohesion to ongoing economic reforms at the federal level, commending President Bola Tinubu for policies such as subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments, which he said had strengthened fiscal capacity across states.
“A unified Nigeria must be nurtured organically from the states and local governments,” he said, adding that citizens are more likely to embrace national identity when governance is fairly delivered at the grassroots.
The governor further called for deliberate nation-building efforts through education, media, and cultural policy, warning that distorted narratives could deepen divisions. “Nation building does not happen by chance,” he said, urging responsible use of media and creative platforms to promote unity.
He also highlighted Delta State’s engagement with non-indigenes, describing it as a driver of social integration and citing a 2025 recognition by various ethnic groups in the state as evidence of inclusive governance in practice.
Earlier, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the club’s centenary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s civic and intellectual history, praising its contribution to national discourse and leadership development.
Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Olawumi Gasper, said the anniversary was both reflective and forward-looking, reaffirming the club’s commitment to fostering conversations on governance and national progress.
Founded in 1926, the Yoruba Tennis Club has long served as a platform for elite engagement and policy dialogue, with the centenary lecture reinforcing its role in shaping conversations around Nigeria’s political and developmental future.