A new initiative aimed at improving governance and business collaboration in the Niger Delta is set to launch with a structured breakfast meeting system. Inspired by past informal consultation methods used by some former governors, the Garden City Premier Business School in Port Harcourt is reintroducing this approach to enhance dialogue between government officials, business leaders, and community representatives.
The concept, previously practiced by former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, allowed governors to meet with everyday citizens, including traders, bus drivers, student union leaders, and journalists, to gather unfiltered feedback. While Odili implemented it extensively, his successor, Chibuike Amaechi, adopted it on a much smaller scale. Now, a private business school is reviving the practice with a more structured and strategic approach.
The Garden City Premier Business School, led by economist and former Bayelsa State commissioner Charles Opula, has announced its inaugural breakfast meeting, scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Genesis Reventon Hotel, GRA Phase III, Port Harcourt. The event aims to bring together top business executives, senior government officials, and members of the diplomatic community for high-level discussions on economic and governance matters.
In preparation for this initiative, the school conducted a comprehensive study on the impact of breakfast meetings on business performance in Rivers State. The research, which surveyed 264 professionals from 15 companies in Onne/Eleme, Obio-Akpor, and Port Harcourt City, examined factors such as knowledge retention, information utilization, customer engagement, and operational efficiency.
Findings from the study revealed a strong correlation between effective information management and improved business outcomes. The research highlighted that structured networking opportunities, such as breakfast meetings, serve as a vital platform for knowledge sharing, strategic decision-making, and collaboration. While privately owned businesses have successfully used such forums to drive innovation and agility, publicly owned enterprises often struggle with bureaucratic inefficiencies that hinder information retention and responsiveness.
The study also found that companies prioritizing digital transformation and structured networking tend to achieve higher performance levels. This insight reinforces the need for leaders in both the public and private sectors to adopt more interactive and data-driven engagement models.
According to Baritoge Yorkum, Director of Corporate Services at the school, the breakfast meetings will offer numerous benefits, including increased visibility, enhanced brand recognition, and opportunities for valuable partnerships. He urged members of the business and governance community to seize this opportunity to foster collaboration and drive economic growth.
As the Niger Delta continues to seek innovative solutions for governance and economic development, structured breakfast meetings could provide a fresh and effective approach to bridging communication gaps, strengthening policy-making, and enhancing business success in the region.
