The Imo State Government has called for deeper collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and other international development partners to accelerate digital innovation, clean energy development and job creation across the state.
Speaking during an engagement with a United Nations delegation, the state highlighted ongoing efforts to transform its economy, with particular emphasis on digital skills, entrepreneurship and community-based businesses.
Amadi described Imo as transitioning from a traditional civil-service state into what he called a “net exporter of digital talent,” while urging the United Nations and development partners to strengthen support in artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and access to venture capital.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Petroleum and Gas Development, Emeka Mgbudem, disclosed that the state had unveiled an ambitious clean-energy strategy aimed at replacing expensive Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, with low-pressure Compressed Natural Gas, LCNG/ANG, for household cooking.
The initiative, according to the state, is expected to reduce household energy costs while addressing environmental and health concerns associated with conventional cooking fuels.
The State’s Chief Economic Adviser, Prof. Kenneth Ameshi, appealed to the UNDP to partner with Imo in expanding the One Kindred One Business Initiative, OKOBI, with a target of creating 500,000 jobs by 2030.
Ameshi said the state’s 20-month collective entrepreneurship model had already established about 600 profit-oriented cooperative businesses employing more than 20,000 residents.
He called for blended financing, business incubation, technical assistance and improved market access to ensure the sustainability and expansion of the enterprises.
Ameshi also said capturing flared natural gas for the clean-cooking initiative could reduce monthly household cooking expenses by about 69 per cent, from an estimated ₦20,500 to ₦6,500 per family.
He said the initiative would operate at a safer pressure range of 20 to 40 PSI and combine smart cylinder-tracking technology with local last-mile delivery.
According to him, the clean-energy strategy is also designed to tackle deforestation, reduce indoor air pollution and provide economic relief across West Africa.
On the health sector, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Chioma Egu, briefed the UN delegation on developments in primary and secondary healthcare across the state.
Egu stressed the importance of partnerships with development organisations in sustaining the foundation laid by the state government in the health sector.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Chinenyenwa Owuamalam, also highlighted the state’s efforts to align its 3R Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals.
She said the state’s achievements and ongoing programmes cut across infrastructure, digital innovation, healthcare and youth empowerment.
Owuamalam further highlighted the initiative of the Governor’s wife, Chioma Uzodimma, through the GF-USI programme, aimed at advancing gender equality and supporting vulnerable women.
She also pointed to ongoing SDG awareness programmes in schools, environmental initiatives and inter-agency partnerships, while calling for deeper collaboration with the United Nations to ensure that vulnerable groups are not left behind.
The engagement concluded with a joint commitment by the Imo State Government and the United Nations to strengthen collaboration in infrastructure, clean energy and technical assistance as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth across the state’s 27 local government areas.
Members of the UN delegation included Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative; Hadiza Elayo, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary-General and Deputy Director, Sustainable Development Unit; Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS; and Dr Vanessa Phala, Country Representative for the International Labour Organization.
