Imo State
Imo is one of the 36 States of Nigeria and is in the south east region of Nigeria. Owerri is its capital and among the largest towns in the State. Its other notable towns are Orlu, Obowo, Oguta, Mbaise and Okigwe. Located in the south-eastern region of Nigeria, it occupies the area between the lower River Niger and the upper and middle Imo River.
Location
Imo State is bordered by Abia State on the East, River Niger and Delta State to the West, Anambra State on the North and Rivers State to the South. The state lies within latitudes 4°45'N and 7°15'N, and longitude 6°50'E and 7°25'E with an area of around 5,100 sq km.Economy
The economy of the state depends primarily on agriculture and commerce. One of the primary agricultural production is the production of palm oil.Rivers and lakes
The Orashi River has its source in Imo State. Imo River, being the major river in the state, drains through Abia State, where it is joined by Aba River from the north, and Akwa Ibom State into the Atlantic Ocean. Otamiri River and its 9.2 km length tributary, Nworie River, flow in the state.There are other rivers and creeks in the state including Onas Creek in Ohaji/Egbema, Okitankwo River in Umudi, Oramurukwa River in Emekuku/Emii/Ulakwo and Ohia and Efuru Rivers in Okigwe.
Natural resources
The state has several natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, Calcium Carbonate and zinc.Profitable flora including iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm. Additionally white clay, fine sand and limestone are found in the state.
Imo's major towns include Isu, Okigwe, Oguta, Orlu, Atta Ikeduru, Akokwa, Mbaise, Mbaitoli, Mbieri, Ohaji/Egbema, Orodo, Nkwerre, Ubulu, Ngor Okpala, Omuma, Owerri, Mgbidi, Awo-Omamma, Izombe, Orsu, and Amaigbo, Umuowa Orlu, Isu/Umuozu, Iho Dimeze.
Oil and gas exploration
There are over 163 oil wells at over 12 different locations in the state. The main petroleum companies operating in the state are Addax Petroleum, Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell and Agip. Some of the established oil-rich local government councils include Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Iho, Oru West, Obowo and Ngor Okpala.Investment opportunities
Many investment opportunities exist in the state including oil and gas exploration, chemical plants, brewery plants, hydroelectric plants, gas-fired power plants, grain mills, starch production, cashews, fruit and vegetable juice concentrate production, integrated multi-oil seed processing plants, ceramics, inland waterway transport, and palm produce industry.Independent global brewer Heineken, through its subsidiary Nigerian Breweries, has significant investment in Imo State. The company manages the world-class Awo-omamma Brewery, a multiple-line plant.
Many more oil and gas opportunities are yet to be developed. The federal government has been called to inspect newly discovered oil-rich areas which might help foster economic development and job creation.
Industrial parks and processing zones to harness the huge agricultural produce and minerals would give a major boost to the state's economic growth and industrialization.
Oguta Lake, Palm Beach Holiday Resort in Awo-omamma and a host of other tourist sites along the banks of the 26 km-length Njaba River present hotspots for tourism.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the primary occupation, but due to over-farming and high population density, the soil has greatly degraded.Climate
The rainy season begins in April and lasts until October, with annual rainfall varying from 1,500mm to 2,200mm.An average annual temperature above creates an annual relative humidity of 75%. With humidity reaching 90% in the rainy season. The dry season experiences two months of Harmattan from late December to late February. The hottest months are between January and March.
With high population density and over farming, the soil has been degraded and much of the native vegetation has disappeared.
This deforestation has triggered soil erosion which is compounded by heavy seasonal rainfall that has led to the destruction of houses and roads.
Palm oil production
One primary source of revenue for Imo State Government is from palm oil production contributed by both large scale and small scale production.History
Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been previously part of East-Central State. The state is named after the Imo River which bears the name of a prominent Nigerian family with that family name, who were the chiefs of Imo State before the ratification of a more formal government. Part of it was split off in 1991 as Abia State, and another part became Ebonyi State.Imo state was created at Ngwoma and the meetings for the state creation which began after the Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970 were chaired by Eze S. E. Onukogu.
Government
The state has a three-tier administrative structure: State, Local and Autonomous community levels. The three arms at state level are the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary. The executive arm is headed by an elected Governor who is assisted by a deputy governor, commissioners and executive advisers.This is a list of administrators and governors of Imo State since its creation.
Name | Title | Took office | Left office | Party |
Ndubuisi Kanu | Governor | Mar 1976 | 1977 | |
Adekunle Lawal | Governor | 1977 | Jul 1978 | |
Sunday Ajibade Adenihun | Governor | Jul 1978 | Oct 1979 | |
Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe | Governor | 1 Oct 1979 | 31 Dec 1983 | NPP |
Ike Nwachukwu | Governor | Jan 1984 | Aug 1985 | |
Allison Amakoduna Madueke | Governor | Aug 1985 | 1986 | |
Amadi Ikwechegh | Governor | 1986 | 1990 | |
Anthony E. Oguguo | Governor | Aug 1990 | Jan 1992 | |
Evan Enwerem | Governor | Jan 1992 | Nov 1993 | NRC |
James N.J. Aneke | Administrator | 9 Dec 1993 | 22 Aug 1996 | |
Tanko Zubairu | Administrator | 22 Aug 1996 | May 1999 | |
Achike Udenwa | Governor | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2007 | PDP |
Ikedi G. Ohakim | Governor | 29 May 2007 | 29 May 2011 | PPA / PDP |
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha | Governor | 29 May 2011 | 29 May 2019 | APGA/APC |
Emeka Ihedioha | Governor | 29 May 2019 | 15 Jan 2020 | PDP |
Hope Uzodinma | Governor | 15 Jan 2020 | Till date | APC |
The legislative arm is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. The current Speaker is Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, and his deputy is Hon. Okey Onyekamma. The remainder of the house is made up of elected legislators from the 27 LGAs of the state.
The judiciary is made up of the high court of justice and the customary court of appeal, and is headed by the Chief Judge of the state.
Local Government Areas
Imo State consists of 27 local government areas:- Aboh Mbaise
- Ahiazu Mbaise
- Ehime Mbano
- Ezinihitte Mbaise
- Ideato North
- Ideato South
- Ihitte/Uboma
- Ikeduru
- Isiala Mbano
- Isu
- Mbaitoli
- Ngor Okpala
- Njaba
- Nkwerre
- Nwangele
- Obowo
- Oguta
- Ohaji/Egbema
- Okigwe
- Onuimo
- Orlu
- Orsu
- Oru East
- Oru West
- Owerri Municipal
- Owerri North
- Owerri West
Demographics
The state has over 4.8 million people and the population density varies from 230 to 1,400 people per square kilometre. Christianity is the predominant religion.Imo state is a predominantly Igbo speaking state, with Igbo people constituting a majority of 98%.
Education
There are several institutions of higher learning including state and federal government run institutions such as:- Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, Ideato
- Federal Polytechnic, Nekede
- Federal University of Technology Owerri
- Hezekiah University, Umudi
- Imo State University
Notable people
Sport
- Chioma Ajunwa – 1996 Olympic gold long jumper
- Prince Amukamara – cornerback for the Chicago Bears
- Emmanuel Amunike – 1994 African Player of the Year and Olympic-winning soccer star
- Nnamdi Asomugha – former Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles Cornerback
- Kelechi Iheanacho – striker for Leicester City, U-17 World Cup winner and tournament's MVP
- Christian Okoye – former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Samuel Okwaraji – national footballer
- Christy Opara – 1997/98 60 meters; fastest woman in the world; 1992 Olympic bronze medalist in track and field
Arts
- Obianuju Catherine Acholonu – author
- Okey Bakassi – comedian and actor
- Charly Boy – hip hop singer and activist
- Rita Dominic – Nigerian actress
- Mercy Eke - actress and reality star
- Osita Iheme – actor
- John Munonye – author
- Genevieve Nnaji – Nollywood actress
- Alban Uzoma Nwapa – Eurodance musician
- Onyeka Nwelue – author, scholar, actor, entrepreneur
- Christogonus Ezebuiro Obinna – highlife musician
- Clem Ohameze – actor
- Stephanie Okereke – actress
- Onyeka Onwenu – singer, actress and politician
Politics
- Pats Acholonu – Supreme Court Justice
- Chris Anyanwu – journalist and senator
- Chris Okewulonu – Chief of Staff
- Ifeanyi Ararume – former senator of Okigwe zone
- Kema Chikwe – former Minister of Aviation
- Chile Eboe-Osuji - Judge, International Court of Criminal Justice, Hague
- Evan Enwerem – former governor and former President of the Senate
- Emeka Ihedioha - former Governor and Chief whip Nigeria House of Representatives
- Maurice Iwu – former INEC chairman
- Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu – politician and businessman
- Prince Eze Madumere - former Deputy Governor
- K. O. Mbadiwe – former Minister of Commerce and Industry
- Sam Mbakwe – former Governor
- Raymond Njoku – former Minister of Transportation
- Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba - former House of Representatives Member and current Minister of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria
- Arthur Nzeribe – former Senator Orlu Zone, Member of the Senate of Nigeria in the 4th National Assembly
- Chinwe Obaji – professor and former Minister of Education
- Walter Ofonagoro – former Minister of Information and Culture
- Ikedi Ohakim – former governor
- Rochas Okorocha – former governor and a serving senator representing Imo West
- Fabian Osuji – former Minister of Education
- Ugonna Ozurigbo – Deputy Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, and Member
- Achike Udenwa – former Governor
Other
- Adiele Afigbo – historian
- Michael Echeruo – academic and writer in Igbo studies
- Michael Ikoku — businessman
- Nenny B – media personality
- Evelyn Okere – Nigerian businesswoman, publisher, fashion designer