Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Wednesday advocated the promotion of Nigeria’s cultural diversity as a unifying strength rather than a source of division, as well as underscored the need for deliberate efforts to build a shared national identity through education, media, and youth-focused initiatives.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the governor also proposed the institutionalisation of a once-in-10-years (decennial) national conference involving the government, traditional rulers, civil society, and other stakeholders to review progress on inclusivity and national cohesion.
Delivering a lecture titled: “Inclusive Governance and National Unity: Lessons from Delta State for a More United Nigeria” at the annual lecture series of the Yoruba Tennis Club in Lagos, Oborevwori asserted that national unity must be built from the grassroots through inclusive policies at state and local government levels, stressing that equitable development and social cohesion across Nigeria’s federating units would significantly reduce tensions and strengthen the country’s collective identity.
The governor said Nigeria’s diversity demanded a governance model that ensures representation, fairness, and participation for all groups, particularly marginalised communities.
Oborevwori commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking bold economic decisions, including fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira, which he insisted, were necessary for long-term economic recovery.
He noted that stronger financial capacity at the subnational level has enabled states and local governments to execute impactful development projects, thereby fostering inclusive growth.
Oborevwori highlighted Delta State’s governance model as a working template, anchored on his administration’s MORE Agenda of Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.
According to him, inclusive governance in the state has translated into equitable infrastructure development, expanded healthcare access, and balanced educational investments across the three senatorial districts.
According to him, over 2.7 million residents had been enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme, while major infrastructure projects such as the Effurun-Warri flyovers and rural road networks were designed to promote economic integration beyond ethnic lines.
The governor also emphasised youth empowerment and social inclusion, revealing that over 300,000 persons have benefited from various state programmes targeting skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and employment.
He added that policies such as the Widows Welfare Scheme and support for vulnerable groups demonstrated the administration’s commitment to socio-economic inclusivity, stressing that opportunities in Delta State were extended to both indigenes and non-indigenes alike.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, described the centenary celebration of the Yoruba Tennis Club as a remarkable milestone, noting that attaining 100 years of continuous relevance is no small feat for any institution.
He commended Governor Oborevwori for his development efforts in Delta State and welcomed all the guests from the state. He expressed confidence in their contributions to discussions on inclusive governance and national unity.
Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa thanked the organizers for the opportunity to attend the gathering and thanked Governor Oborevwori for honouring the invitation of the club.
Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawunmi Gasper, welcomed guests with pride and a deep sense of history as the club marks milestones toward its centenary.
