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By Women in Inter-Party Relations (WIPR), Delta State

Introduction: Governance Through the Eyes of Women

As women committed to democratic participation, peaceful political engagement, good governance and the advancement of our dear Delta State, we consider it necessary to appraise the administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, since its inauguration in May 2023.

Our assessment is informed by a simple principle: the ultimate measure of governance is not merely the number of projects announced or commissioned, but the extent to which government policies improve the quality of life of the people.

As an association of women drawn from different political parties, Women in Inter-Party Relations believes that constructive appraisal is not an act of political hostility, just as acknowledging government achievements does not amount to partisan endorsement.

Our responsibility is to examine the administration’s policies, recognise initiatives that contribute to public welfare, identify areas requiring improvement and articulate the expectations of women and families throughout Delta State.

1. Infrastructure Development: Recognising Progress While Demanding Wider Impact

Infrastructure development has remained a prominent feature of the Oborevwori administration’s agenda.

In its presentation of the 2026 budget, the state government proposed ₦450 billion for urban highways, rural roads and riverine roads. The budget also made provision for drainage, bridges and other infrastructure projects. These allocations demonstrate the administration’s stated intention to sustain investment in physical development.

From the perspective of women, good infrastructure is more than a political achievement. It determines how easily a pregnant woman can reach a hospital, how safely children travel to school, how traders transport their goods and how quickly emergency services can reach communities.

We therefore encourage the government to sustain road construction and rehabilitation while ensuring that projects are distributed equitably across the three senatorial districts and between urban, rural and riverine communities.

We also urge the relevant authorities to pay attention to drainage, flood prevention, pedestrian safety and the maintenance of completed roads.

For us, the true value of infrastructure lies in its contribution to human welfare, economic activity and the security of everyday life.

2. Women’s Economic Empowerment: Turning Programmes Into Sustainable Livelihoods

Women are central to Delta State’s informal economy. They operate markets, manage small businesses, engage in agriculture, provide essential services and support households with limited resources.

The state government’s 2026 budget address highlighted initiatives such as the MORE Grant Scheme, the MORE Biz-Up programme, the Women Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Programme, and the Working Fingers Initiative. The administration has presented these programmes as avenues for supporting small businesses, artisans and female entrepreneurs.

WIPR recognises the importance of initiatives that seek to improve women’s access to financial assistance, vocational training and opportunities for self-employment.

However, empowerment must be measured by its practical outcomes.

How many women have received assistance? How many businesses have survived and expanded? What opportunities exist for women in rural communities? Are beneficiaries receiving the training, equipment and financial support necessary to become economically independent?

We believe that women’s empowerment should extend beyond the distribution of grants or the organisation of training programmes.

It should include affordable credit, business development support, access to markets, agricultural assistance, digital skills and opportunities for women to participate in public procurement.

We encourage the government to publish periodic reports showing the number of beneficiaries, the geographical distribution of assistance and the measurable outcomes of its empowerment programmes.

Such transparency would help the public appreciate the programmes’ impact and identify areas where additional support is needed.

3. The Welfare of Widows and Vulnerable Women

One of the initiatives highlighted in the administration’s 2026 budget address is the Widows Welfare Scheme.

According to the government’s account, the scheme supports 10,000 widows with monthly stipends totalling ₦150 million, while beneficiaries are also enrolled in the state’s contributory health insurance programme.

If effectively implemented and sustained, such support can help vulnerable households meet some of their essential needs.

For many widows, the burden of providing food, education, shelter and healthcare without a spouse’s support can be overwhelming. Government intervention can provide meaningful relief.

Nevertheless, we believe that social protection should be accompanied by measures that enable beneficiaries to build more secure futures.

WIPR therefore advocates regular monitoring of the scheme, transparent beneficiary selection, accessible complaints procedures and periodic assessments of its effect on household welfare.

We also encourage the expansion of sustainable livelihood opportunities for widows, including vocational training, small-business support and access to affordable healthcare.

The objective should be to protect vulnerable women from destitution while helping those who can work to establish independent sources of income.

4. Healthcare: The Importance of Accessible and Affordable Services

Healthcare remains a major concern for women, children and families.

The administration’s 2026 budget proposal earmarked approximately ₦50.067 billion for the health sector. Its budget address also reported investments in medical equipment, hospital facilities, intensive care units and dialysis services.

These are important areas of public investment because the quality of healthcare directly affects maternal health, child survival, family finances and productivity.

However, infrastructure and medical equipment must be supported by adequate staffing, essential medicines, reliable power, functional facilities and affordable treatment.

For women in remote communities, access to antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric services and postnatal care can make the difference between a manageable medical emergency and a tragedy.

We therefore call for sustained attention to primary healthcare centres, maternal and child health services, reproductive healthcare, immunisation and the needs of elderly women.

We also encourage the government to continue expanding health insurance coverage and ensure that eligible beneficiaries can access the services for which they are enrolled.

The test of healthcare policy is whether an ordinary woman can obtain appropriate medical attention without being driven into financial hardship.

5. Education and the Future of the Girl Child

Education is one of the most effective instruments for reducing poverty and improving the prospects of future generations.

The Oborevwori administration’s 2026 budget proposal allocated approximately ₦105.086 billion to the education sector. The government has also reported investments in school infrastructure, teacher recruitment, technical education and assistance to students of Delta State origin in tertiary institutions.

WIPR recognises the importance of these areas of investment.

We believe that every girl in Delta State should have the opportunity to obtain a quality education, develop useful skills and pursue her ambitions without discrimination.

However, investment in education must translate into better learning outcomes, adequate classrooms, qualified teachers, appropriate instructional materials and safe learning environments.

We also encourage greater attention to girls from disadvantaged households, children with disabilities and pupils in underserved communities.

Technical and vocational education deserves particular emphasis because it can provide young women with practical skills in areas such as information technology, agriculture, healthcare, engineering-related trades and entrepreneurship.

We urge the government to strengthen partnerships between educational institutions and employers so that young people can acquire skills that respond to real economic opportunities.

6. Employment and the Economic Prospects of Young Women

Unemployment and underemployment remain issues that require sustained attention from government, businesses and civil society.

Young women need opportunities to acquire skills, establish businesses and participate meaningfully in the modern economy.

Although government empowerment initiatives can provide assistance, they should form part of a broader employment strategy.

WIPR encourages the state government to strengthen vocational training, entrepreneurship programmes, agricultural value chains and partnerships with private businesses.

We also advocate transparent recruitment processes, equal opportunities for qualified applicants and measures that enable women to participate in emerging economic sectors.

Particular attention should be paid to young mothers, women from low-income households and women who have completed vocational training but lack the resources to establish businesses.

We believe that a Delta State in which women can earn sustainable incomes is a state better positioned to reduce household poverty and improve the welfare of children.

7. Women’s Representation in Political Leadership

As an organisation devoted to inter-party relations among women, WIPR considers women’s political participation an essential element of democratic development.

In May 2024, the Delta State Government reported that Governor Oborevwori had directed that where male chairmanship candidates emerged in the relevant party primaries, women should be considered for vice-chairmanship positions, and that at least three female councillors should emerge in each local government area.

The reported directive recognised the importance of women’s inclusion in local political representation.

Nevertheless, WIPR believes that women’s participation should not be confined to a limited number of positions or treated merely as a matter of political balancing.

Women should have meaningful opportunities to contest elections, occupy appointive positions, contribute to policymaking and participate in the leadership of political parties.

We encourage political parties, the state government and other democratic institutions to support women through leadership training, mentorship, transparent nomination processes and greater access to political decision-making.

Women should be recognised not only as campaign organisers and voters but also as policymakers, elected representatives and contributors to the development of Delta State.

8. Security, Environmental Protection and Community Welfare

Women and children are particularly vulnerable when communities experience insecurity, environmental degradation, flooding or disruptions to livelihoods.

We encourage the state government to sustain collaboration with relevant security agencies and community stakeholders while strengthening early-warning mechanisms and support for affected residents.

Environmental management also deserves continued attention. Drainage maintenance, responsible land use, effective waste disposal and flood-control measures can help protect homes, businesses, schools and public health.

We further encourage the government to maintain constructive engagement with communities across the state, especially those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture, fishing, trading and other activities vulnerable to environmental changes.

Development should be inclusive and should improve the safety and economic prospects of residents regardless of where they live.

9. Accountability: The Need to Measure Results

While acknowledging the initiatives announced by the government, WIPR believes that every administration must remain open to public scrutiny.

Budgetary allocations are important, but allocations alone do not establish that a project has been completed or that a social programme has achieved its intended results.

For this reason, we encourage regular publication of project status reports, accessible budget-performance information and clear assessments of the outcomes of public expenditure.

We also urge government institutions to provide channels through which citizens, civil society organisations and professional associations can raise concerns and obtain information about public programmes.

Constructive engagement between government and citizens can improve implementation, identify gaps and strengthen public confidence.

Our position is that accountability should not be interpreted as antagonism. It is an essential responsibility in a democratic society.

10. Our Expectations as Women in Inter-Party Relations

As we assess the administration’s record, WIPR sets out the following expectations for the remaining period of the current administration:

1. Greater economic empowerment for women: Expand access to affordable finance, business support, vocational training and agricultural opportunities.
2. Improved maternal and child healthcare: Strengthen primary healthcare, emergency maternal services and access to affordable treatment.
3. Quality education for every child: Improve school facilities, teacher availability, learning outcomes and support for disadvantaged girls.
4. Meaningful political inclusion: Create more opportunities for women to participate in elective and appointive leadership positions.
5. Sustainable employment: Promote skills development, entrepreneurship and partnerships that create productive employment opportunities.
6. Equitable infrastructure development: Ensure that rural, urban and riverine communities benefit from public investment.
7. Transparent governance: Make information about public expenditure, project implementation and social programmes accessible to citizens.
8. Stronger social protection: Sustain support for widows, elderly women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
9. Peaceful political engagement: Encourage dialogue and mutual respect among women across party lines, recognising that political differences should not undermine our shared interest in the welfare of Delta State.

Conclusion: Our Position on the Oborevwori Administration

Women in Inter-Party Relations believes that the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should be appraised through its policies, implementation record and measurable impact on the people of Delta State.

The government’s stated investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and social welfare provide important areas for assessment. At the same time, the public has a legitimate interest in knowing how effectively these initiatives are being implemented and how widely their benefits are being shared.

For women, the most meaningful indicators of progress include the ability to support our families, access affordable healthcare, educate our children, establish sustainable businesses, live in secure communities and participate fully in political and economic life.
We are satisfied that the administration of Governor Oborevwori is very women friendly and should be encouraged to succeed. The Governor is doing well in very many aspect of governance and he deserves a second term to consolidate on the gains made in the first term

We therefore encourage the state government to consolidate initiatives that are delivering measurable benefits, address gaps in implementation and maintain an open relationship with citizens.

As a women-led organisation whose members belong to different political parties, WIPR remains committed to peaceful political engagement, constructive criticism, accountability and the advancement of women’s participation in governance.

Our loyalty is first to democratic principles, the welfare of women and children, and the collective development of Delta State.

We believe that when women are economically secure, politically included and socially protected, families become stronger and communities are better positioned to prosper.

For: Women in Inter-Party Relations

Annabel Cosmas
State Coordinator

Esther James
Deputy Coordinator

Juliana Uréte
Secretary