ABUJA — Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has emerged as Nigeria’s best-rated governor in healthcare delivery and basic education at the 2026 Governance Accountability and Transparency Index (GATI) Awards organised by the Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers (GOMEP) Nigeria.

The recognition places Delta State ahead of several other states in the assessment, including Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Borno, Niger, Abia, Osun, Kaduna and Lagos, which also featured among the top 10 states in the ranking.

According to GOMEP Nigeria, the recognition followed an assessment by a 12-member committee constituted by its National President, Comrade Akpovoke Otiti, to evaluate governance performance, accountability and transparency across Nigeria’s 36 states.

The assessment was conducted as part of preparations for the organisation’s forthcoming annual conference, lecture and workshop scheduled for November 26, 2026, in Abuja.

The committee was chaired by Ms Rabi Abubakar, Esq., while Comrade Tochukwu Eluwa served as secretary.

Why Delta State Emerged on Top

Two major areas of performance under the Oborevwori administration featured prominently in the assessment: healthcare delivery through the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme (DSCHC) and basic education interventions implemented through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

In the healthcare sector, the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, led by Dr Isaac Akpoveta, was recognised for its role in expanding access to medical services and improving health insurance coverage.

The initiative forms part of the state government’s efforts to make essential healthcare services more accessible and affordable to residents.

The committee also highlighted the administration’s interventions in basic education through SUBEB, led by Samuel Mariere.

The education initiatives were identified as important contributions to human capital development, improved learning opportunities and the overall social welfare of residents.

Delta Leads as Other States Make the Top 10

GOMEP National Secretary, Prince Clinton Uba, said Delta State emerged as the leading state in the 2026 GATI Awards ranking.

Other states featured among the top 10 included Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Borno, Niger, Abia, Osun, Kaduna and Lagos.

The ranking forms part of GOMEP Nigeria’s efforts to encourage public scrutiny of government performance and promote transparency, accountability and responsible leadership across the country.

Through the GATI initiative, the organisation seeks to strengthen the media’s role in evaluating public administration and drawing attention to policies and programmes that directly affect citizens.

A Recognition That Comes With Expectations

The recognition comes amid growing public expectations for state governments to demonstrate measurable improvements in essential services, manage public resources responsibly and ensure that government policies translate into tangible benefits for residents.

For Delta State, the award places the Oborevwori administration’s healthcare and education programmes in the spotlight, while raising expectations that the reported progress will be sustained.

As the state celebrates the recognition, the ultimate test will remain the extent to which healthcare and education initiatives continue to improve the everyday lives of ordinary residents.

The GATI 2026 Awards will feature among the activities of GOMEP Nigeria’s annual conference, lecture and workshop scheduled to hold on November 26, 2026, at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, opposite the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja.