Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Wednesday called for a national conference that would tackle the challenges of inclusive governance.

He warned against designing national dialogue for resolving adhoc crisis, urging the country to embrace periodic, structured and recurring engagements.

Oborevwori delivered a lecture titled: ‘Inclusive governance and national unity: Lessons from Delta State for a united Nigeria’ as part of the 100 centenary anniversary of the Yoruba Tennis Club in Lagos.

The governor said the national conference should be backed by law as a forum for the assessment of nation-building.

He said: “One of the most practical pathways towards achieving inclusive governance and strengthening national unity in Nigeria is the institutionalization of a periodic national conference of stakeholders.

“Rather than treating national dialogue as an ad hoc response to crisis, Nigeria must embed structured, recurring engagement into its governance architecture.

“This conference should bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders—federal and state actors, traditional rulers, private sector leaders, civil society organizations, youth representatives, women’s groups, and marginalized communities.”

Oborevwori said the objective of the conference is not merely discussion, but systematic review and recalibration of national priorities, particularly in relation to inclusivity, regional development, and equitable distribution of resources.

He said these conferences should be designed around clear, measurable goals like the assessment of inclusivity in governance, regional development audit, policy feedback conflict prevention, and trust building.

Oborevwori added: “Implementation is vital in ensuring that these stakeholders’ engagements yield the necessary results.”

Shedding light on the conference, he said it should hold every 10 years to ensure continuity without governance fatigue.

On thematic focus area, he said:”Each session should prioritize key issues such as fiscal federalism, security, youth unemployment, and regional infrastructure gaps.

The governor said a non-partisan body to track implementation of resolutions and publish annual progress report should constitute the secretariat.

Emphasising the importance of legislative backing, he said: “Outcomes should not remain recommendations; they should feed directly into legislative and executive action.”By institutionalizing this periodic national conference and implementation structure, we can move from reactive governance and proactive nation-building.”

The governor said Nigeria should forge ahead with a national consensus, grounded on the enduring pillars of mutual respect, shared prosperity, fairness, and justice.

He said: “This approach charts the course towards a more unified, prosperous, and a greater Nigeria.

“Such an outcome is feasible; thus, in our respective endeavors, we all must embrace it by transcending ethnic, religious, and cultural biases while championing the unifying values and ideals that bind us together.” (The Nation)

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