Nasarawa State University's 47th Inaugural Lecture Advocates New Public Management for Effective Governance

Professor Charles Nwekeaku, a scholar of New Public Management (NPM) from the Department of Public Administration at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), has called for the adoption of NPM as a solution to governance challenges in Nigeria.  

Delivering the university’s 47th inaugural lecture titled "New Public Management, National Development, and Transformation in a Globalized Economy" on November 27, 2024, Professor Nwekeaku emphasized the need for innovation, efficiency, and a customer-centric approach in public administration. He criticized traditional public administration for delays, rigid processes, and bureaucratic inefficiencies, advocating for NPM’s private-sector-inspired strategies to transform governance.  

According to Professor Nwekeaku, NPM promotes accountability, transparency, and cost-effective governance while fostering creativity and entrepreneurship. He argued that its adoption could transform developing economies like Nigeria by addressing inefficiencies and reducing the cost of governance.  

In her remarks, NSUK Vice-Chancellor Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman praised the lecture’s relevance, urging governments at all levels to implement NPM for sustainable growth. She congratulated Professor Nwekeaku on his contributions and highlighted the potential of NPM to drive Nigeria’s simultaneous growth and development.  

Goodwill messages from notable figures, including Elder Edwin Clark (represented by Habu Dawaki), Professor Echefuna Rotimi Gabriel Onyebeadi, and Major General John Nwaoga, reiterated the urgency of adopting NPM for Nigeria to thrive globally.  

The event concluded with the presentation of a plaque and medal to Professor Nwekeaku by Vice-Chancellor Liman, celebrating his achievements and contribution to academic discourse.  

_© Information and Protocol Unit, 2024_  

_Nasarawa State University, Keffi_