President Bola Tinubu has described the Igbo as the greatest stakeholders in the Nigerian project, praising their mobility, enterprise and ambition. The message was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Imo Economic Stakeholders Summit in Owerri.
According to Tinubu, Ndigbo play a key role in national development, noting that “half of Abuja is owned by Ndigbo” and that they form a significant portion of Lagos’ population. He said the Federal Government is committed to supporting Imo State and other regions to unlock investment opportunities and ensure development reaches all communities.
Tinubu emphasized that global economic progress is now driven by innovation, not natural resources, and urged states to leverage their comparative advantages. He said Imo State is strategically positioned for transformation, especially with growing digital infrastructure that can attract technology investments.
Governor Hope Uzodimma, in his remarks, said Imo is approaching 50 years of statehood and remains full of untapped potential. He noted that despite producing successful entrepreneurs and entertainers, the state still struggles with weak industrialisation due to decades of poor infrastructure and unreliable power supply.
Uzodimma highlighted efforts by his administration to reverse this trend, including the construction of over 120 strategic roads and bridges across the state’s 27 local government areas. He stressed that while infrastructure is vital, solving electricity challenges remains the biggest barrier to industrial growth.
He added that creating a strong enabling environment—through improved security, stability, power and infrastructure—remains the focus of his government to attract sustainable investments.
