GATI 2026 Awards: Oborevwori Named Nigeria’s Best-Rated Governor in Healthcare, Education

Why Delta State Stands Out: Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has earned national recognition in healthcare and basic education as GOMEP-NG releases its 2026 GATI rankings.

Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria has named Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori Nigeria’s best-rated governor in healthcare and basic education in its 2026 GATI Awards, citing the state’s contributory health insurance scheme and SUBEB interventions.

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

The recognition followed an assessment of governance performance across Nigeria’s 36 states by a 12-member committee constituted by GOMEP-NG National President, Comrade Akpovoke Otiti.

The committee identified the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme (DSCHC) and interventions in basic education through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) as notable areas of performance under the Oborevwori administration.

The assessment was conducted as part of preparations for GOMEP-NG’s annual conference, lecture and workshop scheduled for November 26, 2026, at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, opposite the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja.

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

Delta Tops GATI 2026 Rankings

GOMEP-NG National Secretary, Prince Clinton Uba, announced that Delta State emerged as the leading state in the 2026 GATI Awards ranking, ahead of Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Borno, Niger, Abia, Osun, Kaduna and Lagos states, among others listed among the top 10.

The ranking forms part of the activities surrounding the organisation’s annual conference and reflects its stated commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and responsible governance through media-led assessments of public-sector performance.

Healthcare Scheme Earns Recognition

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

The scheme represents a key component of the state government’s efforts to make essential medical services more accessible and affordable to residents.

By focusing on health insurance coverage, the initiative seeks to address barriers that can prevent residents from accessing necessary medical care.

SUBEB Interventions Highlighted in Basic Education

The Oborevwori administration’s interventions in basic education, implemented through the State Universal Basic Education Board under the leadership of Samuel Mariere, also featured prominently in the assessment.

The recognition highlights the importance of basic education in human capital development and the broader effort to improve social welfare through public investment in essential services.

Healthcare and education remain critical indicators of governance performance because of their direct implications for citizens’ well-being, opportunities and quality of life.

GOMEP-NG Highlights Accountability in Governance

The recognition comes amid growing public expectations for state governments to demonstrate measurable improvements in essential services, ensure prudent management of public resources and promote accountability in the implementation of policies and programmes.

GOMEP-NG, which brings together online media editors and publishers from across Nigeria, said the GATI initiative was designed to encourage public scrutiny of government performance and strengthen the media’s role in promoting accountability in public administration.

For Delta State, the recognition places the administration’s healthcare and basic education programmes in the spotlight while underscoring the importance of sustaining progress through transparent governance, effective service delivery and measurable outcomes for residents.

The GATI 2026 recognition also provides an opportunity to focus attention on the performance of public institutions and the extent to which government programmes translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of citizens.