BARR. IHEKA, OHANAEZE NDIGBO DEPUTY NATIONAL LEGAL ADVISER, EXPRESSES STRONG SUPPORT FOR GOV. UZODINMA’S ECONOMIC SUMMIT
Barr. Chizoba Iheka, a distinguished legal practitioner and the Deputy National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was among the eminent personalities who participated in the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 held on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th December at the Concorde Boulevard, Owerri.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Imo’s Economic Potential: Partnership, Investment and Innovation,” brought together global business leaders, policymakers, international development partners, and renowned statesmen. Among the high-profile attendees were:
Former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon
Former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson
Africa’s foremost industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote
Liberian President, Joseph Boakai
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Sen. John Azuta Mbata
His Deputy, Prince Okey Nwadinaobi
Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, H.E. Emeka Sibeudu
Speaking at the event, Barr. Chizoba Iheka applauded Governor Hope Uzodimma for organizing what he described as “a historic assembly of global thinkers and innovators.” He noted that the Governor’s foresight and leadership have elevated Imo State to the global development arena.
According to Iheka, Governor Uzodimma has “broken commendable records” through strategic projects such as the Orashi Electricity Initiative, the expanding gas infrastructure, and several transformative investments shaping the state’s new economic identity.
He further praised the Governor’s 3R mantra—Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Recovery—highlighting its impact in repositioning Imo as an attractive destination for investors and a model for sustainable governance in Nigeria.
One of the administration’s most significant achievements is securing Imo State’s inclusion in Nigeria’s gas-derivation revenue structure. This milestone establishes Imo as a rising energy hub and unlocks long-term revenue streams critical for development.
With vast gas deposits across the state, the new policy has spurred:
Expanded energy-based investments
Industrial corridors such as the Orashi Industrial Corridor
Growth in agro-processing and manufacturing
Revitalization of rural economies through improved investor confidence
Imo State is now widely seen as a new economic powerhouse in the South-East.
Governor Uzodimma’s infrastructural revolution remains one of the administration’s most widely acknowledged achievements. Several long-neglected federal and state roads have been reconstructed, easing mobility and boosting inter-city trade.
Major completed and ongoing projects include:
Owerri–Orlu Road
Owerri–Okigwe Road
Owerri–Mbaise–Umuahia Corridor
Mgbidi–Oguta Industrial Access Road
These roads have enhanced logistics, strengthened security presence, opened rural routes, and laid a firm foundation for commerce, tourism, and industrial expansion.
The Governor’s emphasis on human capital development is demonstrated through multiple empowerment and skills initiatives. The most notable is the SkillUp Imo program, which has trained tens of thousands of youths in:
ICT and digital skills
Software development
Entrepreneurship and business management
Creative and technical vocations
Many beneficiaries have since secured jobs both locally and internationally, reducing unemployment and fostering a new generation of globally competitive Imo youths.
Governor Uzodimma has strengthened the state’s civil service through policies that prioritize workers’ welfare, including:
Implementation of an increased minimum wage
Modernized payroll systems
Prompt salary and pension payments
Structural reforms for enhanced productivity
These initiatives have restored trust in public institutions and repositioned the civil service as a critical engine of development.
A major democratic achievement of the Uzodimma administration is the successful restoration of Local Government elections, which had been absent for years. This step reestablished grassroots governance, strengthened accountability, and ensured better community-level project delivery.
At the heart of Uzodimma’s vision is the ambitious Imo Light Project, designed to provide 24/7 electricity across the state. This initiative is set to transform Imo into a thriving industrial and investment hub.
Barr. Iheka emphasized that stable electricity is fundamental to economic growth, adding that the project aligns perfectly with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s mantra: “Aku Ruo Ulo”—encouraging Igbo sons and daughters, at home and in the diaspora, to invest in their homeland.
He also praised Governor Uzodimma as a unifying leader “who builds with love and without segregation.”
The Uzodimma administration has made significant progress in revitalizing critical social sectors:
Upgrading school infrastructure and improving tertiary education
Revamping public hospitals and equipping primary healthcare centers
Implementing digital governance, transparent procurement, and anti-corruption frameworks
These reforms have strengthened public institutions and improved service delivery across the state.
Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodimma is experiencing a bold transformation driven by vision, accountability, and strategic governance. From economic reforms to infrastructure, human development, and democratic consolidation, his administration has set Imo on a path of irreversible progress.
Today, Imo stands proudly as one of Nigeria’s emerging industrial and investment destinations—ready for global partnerships, technological advancement, and sustainable prosperity.
Governor Uzodimma’s leadership has not only reshaped the state’s developmental story but has also created a national model for effective and people-centered governance.
