Vice President Kashim Shettima has projected Imo State as one of Nigeria’s next major growth frontiers, highlighting its potential in technology, gas utilisation, agro-industrial processing, and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking on Thursday at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri, the vice president said the Federal Government is positioning Imo as a strategic player in President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms aimed at stabilising the business environment and unlocking long-term growth.
Shettima said national prosperity depends on all states harnessing their unique strengths, stressing that “nations rise when every part discovers its promise and takes responsibility for its own economic direction.”
He noted that Imo aligns strongly with the theme of the summit — “Unlocking Imo’s Economic Potential: Partnership, Investment, and Innovation” — describing the state as “primed for transformation.”
The vice president said the administration is ready to de-risk private investments and ensure policy stability, adding that access to financing through the Bank of Industry and the Development Bank of Nigeria will be expanded for businesses in the state.
He listed high-growth opportunities, including special agro-processing zones, free trade zones, expanded gas utilisation, and digital infrastructure that could attract ICT firms and stimulate innovation-driven industries. “The message is unmistakable: Imo is open for business. Nigeria is open for business,” he said.
Shettima also emphasised technology as a new engine of global competitiveness, stating that the federal government is supporting youth innovation, digital skills training, and research partnerships with universities.
Governor Hope Uzodinma praised President Tinubu’s reform policies, saying they have repositioned Nigeria’s investment climate and enabled Imo to take the lead in the South-East.
