Imo@50: I’m bequeathing industrialised state – Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma said he is bequeathing a prosperous Imo characterised by industrialization, digital technology and steady power supply.

He spoke at the golden jubilee celebration of the creation of the state held in Owerri, the capital.

He said the infrastructural revolution achieved by his administration in the last six years has put Imo State on the path of sustainable development, with a strengthened economy.

Speaking to a mammoth crowd that gathered in Owerri for the grand finale of the celebrations, including Vice President, Kashim Shettima, some governors, National Assembly members and traditional rulers from across the country, Uzodimma disclosed that the 25-year strategic plan his administration set for the state last year was designed to make it an industrial digital hub in Africa.

Uzodimma said, apart from realising for Imo the economic breakthrough he promised, he was determined to approach the future with renewed economic vigour.

Uzodimma acknowledged the contributions of past administrations, stressing that each government since 1976 added value to the Imo project, while leaving history to judge individual legacies.

On infrastructure, Uzodimma said his government has constructed over 130 roads, upgraded the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport for international operations, expanded healthcare coverage through a state health insurance scheme, and commissioned the Orashi Power Project, marking Imo’s gradual exit from generator dependency.

Speaking, Vice President Kashim Shettima hailed the governor as a “game-changing revolutionary in Imo’s modern political history” whose leadership ensures that “governance is not theatre, but duty.”

Shettima highlighted the state’s achievements in education, Nollywood, agriculture, and technology, noting that “Imo’s skill, human capital, and institutional strength remain strategic assets for long-term economic leadership.”

He urged the state to build on these foundations, saying the Golden Jubilee should inspire “unity, innovation, and service-driven policy” for the next 50 years.

The Chairman of the occasion and a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, described Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as an “infrastructure governor,” citing his administration’s impact across key sectors of the state.

He pointed out that the Governor had earned the title through investments in roads, transportation, agriculture, finance, and other critical areas.

“The sobriquet of ‘infrastructure governor’ attached to Governor Hope Uzodimma is well understood and well deserved,” Anyaoku said, adding that the administration is leaving “an admirable legacy” in the state.

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, congratulated the government and people of Imo State on their golden jubilee, describing Governor Hope Uzodimma as a model of effective leadership and service delivery. He said Uzodimma has become a reference point among governors for commitment to the people and progressive governance.

Oyebanji noted that Imo’s 50-year journey has been impactful, with its sons and daughters contributing significantly to national development. He particularly commended the Orashi Power Project, describing electricity as a major development challenge for states. According to him, improved power supply will boost productivity, create jobs, and ensure a more prosperous future for Imo State.

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