Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended Imo State for its remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s political, intellectual, and economic development over the past fifty years, describing the state as a key driver of national progress.
Speaking on Saturday during the Golden Jubilee celebrations marking the state’s creation, VP Shettima conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill, assuring Imo of its prominent role on the national stage.
He praised the state’s political leadership, intellectual achievements, creative talents, and agricultural strengths, particularly in palm oil production, noting that Imo has consistently enriched the country.
The Vice President singled out Governor Hope Uzodimma for special recognition, describing him as a transformative leader who has restored discipline, effective planning, and institutional strength to the state’s governance.
“Governor Uzodimma has distinguished himself as more than a custodian of the present. He is a leader who understands that governance is not theatre, but duty. Under his watch, Imo has rediscovered the discipline of planning, the courage of reform, and the confidence to re-enter the national conversation as a state prepared for relevance,” he said.
VP Shettima also traced Imo’s legacy of leadership, highlighting Dr. Kingsley Mbadiwe for his “flamboyant command of language [which] enriched Nigeria’s political memory,” the celebrated Weeping Governor Sam Mbakwe, and Rochas Okorocha, whom he called a pan-Nigerian archetype for his humanitarian work with orphaned children.
He emphasised the state’s cultural and intellectual impact, particularly through Chief Flora Nwapa, “the mother of modern African literature,” who gave African women “a literary voice at a time when silence was expected of them.”
The Vice President further celebrated Imo’s contributions to Nollywood through actors such as Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, and Kanayo O. Kanayo, and to music through Onyeka Onwenu, who “placed Nigerian sound on the world stage with grace and conviction.”
On economic development, he highlighted Imo’s thriving agriculture, especially palm oil production at the historic Ada Palm Plantation, and its bustling commercial centres, from Nkwo Orji to Orlu International Market.
He also praised the state’s education sector, including the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Imo State University, calling education “Imo’s greatest industry.”
“Literacy rates remain among the highest in the nation, and graduates from Imo compete confidently across every field,” VP Shettima said, noting emerging opportunities in the state’s oil and gas sector, agro-processing, renewable energy, mineral processing, tourism, and digital economy.
He also commended Owerri’s growth as a hospitality hub, adding that “security has been an economic asset and peace, when nurtured, yields prosperity.”
Urging the state to use its golden jubilee as a launchpad for the next fifty years, he said, “Unity must be renewed. Innovation must be encouraged. Governance must remain humane and disciplined. Politics must return to service.”
Governor Uzodimma, in his remarks, pledged that Imo would continue to grow and embrace digital transformation, recalling that its creation in 1976 represented freedom and opportunity.
“We have made significant progress both as a people and as a state. There is no doubt that we are growing fast in unity, resilience, and reliance on God. We have seen Owerri transform from a town into a hub. What has kept us united is the indomitable spirit of the Imo people,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, commended Governor Uzodimma for transformative projects across transportation, finance, agriculture, and other sectors, noting the positive impact on both Imo State and the wider Nigerian economy.
Chief Anyaoku prayed for continued political progress in Nigeria, emphasising that elections remain a cornerstone of democracy.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji described Governor Uzodimma as a reference point among his peers, noting that other governors are now emulating his achievements.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, thanked Imo State for shaping his early life and lauded Governor Uzodimma “for showcasing Imo State to the world.”
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Oba Ojaja II), prayed for continued progress for Imo State and Nigeria, calling for sustained unity across the country.
