By Ifeanyi Uwagwu
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged governing councils of state-owned tertiary institutions to ensure that management practices in their institutions reflect global best standards while remaining responsive to local realities.
The Governor gave the charge yesterday at the opening of a one-day workshop for governing council members of state-owned tertiary institutions in Delta State, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education in collaboration with Space Spectrum Ltd. The event, themed “Effective Governance in Tertiary Institutions: Challenges, Opportunities and Best Practices”, was held at Jace-Darl Hotel and Suites Conference Centre, Asaba.
Governor Oborevwori, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, described the workshop as timely and essential in strengthening governance and accountability in the state’s tertiary education system.
He emphasised that tertiary institutions play a pivotal role in nurturing the human capital that drives the developmental agenda of the state. According to him, effective governance at this level is crucial to ensuring transparency, innovation, and sustainability in the education sector.
“The present administration remains fully committed to repositioning the education sector in line with the MORE Agenda. Our goal is to ensure that management practices in our institutions reflect global best standards while staying attuned to our local realities,” he stated.
Oborevwori lauded the Ministry of Higher Education and its partners for creating a platform for introspection and capacity building, noting that such engagements are vital for equipping council members with the knowledge and tools needed for effective oversight and policy direction.
He urged participants to engage actively, share experiences, and develop actionable strategies that will strengthen institutional performance across the state.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to build a robust and innovative education system that can compete favourably on the global stage, assuring that his government will continue to support initiatives aimed at improving quality, accountability, and governance in tertiary education.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, welcomed participants to the workshop.
Stating the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that state-owned institutions remain centres of excellence and integrity in line with the vision of Governor Oborevwori, he mentioned that the workshop was necessary, as it provided an excellent opportunity to reflect on the challenges confronting tertiary education governance, share experiences, and explore best practices that can enhance efficiency, accountability and performance.
“Our tertiary institutions are central to the development of the human capital that drives innovation, productivity, and social progress. However, the attainment of these goals depends largely on the quality of governance at the institutional level. It is therefore imperative that members of Governing Councils are adequately equipped with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to provide sound policy direction and effective oversight”, Tonukari said.
In his remarks, the House Committee Chairman on Education, Hon. Charles Emetulu, commended the ministry for the timely and valuable workshop, while calling on council members and management of the institutions to collectively reflect on their statutory roles and chart a more effective course to further strengthen their institutions and legacies.
Dr Kareem Lateef of the University Education Department at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, delivered a paper central to the theme of the workshop. He sued for clear governance structures and role clarity to prevent overlap and interference and to ensure that each organ operates within its legal mandate, while also calling for transparency and ethical leadership. Another lecture on Clarification of Roles of Council Members was also presented.
The functioning Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Bridget Edobor gave the vote of thanks as the event drew to a close, a presentation and adoption of recommendations from the workshop will be issued today.
