Imo Has Risen and Is Open for Business … Gov. Uzodinma
By Uche Nworah, Ph.D
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has declared that Imo State is now fully positioned for investment and economic growth, stating that the state “has risen and is open for business.”
The governor made the remark while welcoming local and international investors, dignitaries and participants to the 2025 Imo Economic Summit.
The two-day summit, themed “Unlocking Imo’s Economic Potential: Partnership, Investment and Innovation,” commenced today, Thursday, December 4, and will conclude on Friday, December 5, 2025. The event is holding at Concorde Boulevard, opposite Concorde Hotel, Owerri.
Addressing participants at the opening session, Governor Uzodinma outlined the reforms and infrastructure projects his administration has implemented to make the state more attractive to investors.
“We have pursued aggressive but progressive reforms from which early movers and investors can benefit. We have removed bottlenecks that previously made doing business difficult. We have interconnected our communities with over 100 new roads, our Orashi power project will soon come on stream, and we have a pool of skilled manpower through our Skill-Up initiative.
We have digitized land administration, making it possible for Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to be issued within 24 hours. The Orashi River dredging, an ambitious economic project, has value chains investors can tap into, alongside the abundant mineral resources in Imo State. We also have the largest untapped gas deposits in West Africa.
Imo State is secure, ready and open. When opportunity meets preparation, good business happens. Bring your investments to Imo State now for higher investment returns.”
The summit hosts a distinguished lineup of global and local leaders, including the President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai; former President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim;
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon; former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson; President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; immediate past President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah; former CNN anchor, Isha Sesay; Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Leo Stan Ekeh; Ernest Nwapa, among other notable industry leaders. Political leaders including national and State government legislators, governors, members of the federal executive council, traditional rulers including the Obi of Obinugwu, Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ilomuanya, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, were among the several traditional rulers at the event.