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Imo State
State
Nickname(s):  Eastern Heartland
Location of Imo State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°29′N 7°2′E / 5.483°N 7.033°E / 5.483; 7.033Coordinates: 5°29′N 7°2′E / 5.483°N 7.033°E / 5.483; 7.033
Country	Nigeria
Created	3 February 1976
Capital	Owerri
Government
• Governor	Rochas Anayo Okorocha (APC)
• Deputy Governor	Prince Eze Madumere
• Senators	Samuel Anyanwu Hope Uzodinma Benjamin Uwajumogu
Area
• Total	5,530 km2 (2,140 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 34th
Population (2006 census)[1]1
• Total	3,927,563[2]
• Rank	13th of 36
Demonym(s)	Imolite
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2007
• Total	$14.21 billion[3]
• Per capita	$3,527[3]
Time zone	UTC+01 (WAT)
ISO 3166 code	NG-IM
HDI (2016)	0.518[4] · 12th of 36
^1 Preliminary results

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 cities in the state. Its other major cities are Orlu, Ogwuta, 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

Economy

The economy of the state depends primarily on agriculture and commerce.

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. There are also Njaba River, Oguta Lake, Utu River, Ezize River and Awbana River in the state.^[7]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, and Ohia and Efuru Rivers in Okigwe.

Natural resources

The state has several natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, Calcium Cabornate and zinc.^[5][8]

Profitable flora including iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm. Additionally white clay, fine sand and limestone are found in the state.^[5]

Imo's major towns include Isu, Okigwe, Oguta, Orlu, Atta Ikeduru, Akokwa, Mbaise, Mbaitoli, Mbieri, Ohaji/Egbema, Orodo, Nkwerre, Ubulu, Ngor Okpala, Omuma, Mgbidi, Awo-Omamma, Izombe, Orsu, and Amaigbo, Umuowa Orlu.

Oil and gas exploration

There are over 163 oil wells at over 12 different locations in the state.^[5] The main petroleum companies operating in the state are Addax Petroleum, Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell and Agip.^[5] Some of the established oil-rich local government councils include Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Iho, Oru West, Obowo and Ngor Okpala.^[9]

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.^[5]

Independent global brewer Heineken, through its subsidiary Nigerian Breweries, has significant investment in Imo State.^[10] The company manages the world-class Awo-omamma Brewery, a multiple-line plant.^[11]

Many more oil and gas opportunities are yet to be developed.^[5] The federal government has been called to inspect newly discovered oil-rich areas which might help foster economic development and job creation.^[12]

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.^[5]

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.^[13]:34

Agriculture

The chief occupation of the local people is farming, but due to over-farming and high population density, the soil has greatly degraded. The cash crops include oil palm, raffia palm, rice, groundnut, melon, cotton, cocoa, rubber, and maize. Consumable crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam and maize are also produced in large quantities.^[5]

Climate

The rainy season begins in April and lasts until October,^[14] with annual rainfall varying from 1,500mm to 2,200mm (60 to 80 inches).^[6][15]

An average annual temperature above 20 °C (68.0 °F) 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.^[6][14][15]

With high population density and over farming, the soil has been degraded and much of the native vegetation has disappeared.^[6]

This deforestation has triggered soil erosion which is compounded by heavy seasonal rainfall that has led to the destruction of houses and roads.^[6][16][17]

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.^[18] 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 Chief S. E. Onukogu.^{[citation needed]}

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.

The legislative arm is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. The current Speaker is Rt. Hon. Ihenacho Ihim, and his deputy is Rt. Hon. Ugonna .Ozurigbo^[19] 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.^[20]

Ministries

• Justice


• Agriculture and Natural Resources


• Education


• Health


• Commerce


• Industry and Tourism


• Finance


• Works and Transport


• Youths and Sports


• Women Affairs


• Internal Resources and Pension Matters


• Local Government and Rural Development


• Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment

Language

English and Igbo

Local government areas

Imo State consists of 27 local government areas:

Smaller jurisdictions in the state may receive township status or urban status.^[21]

Demographics

The state has over 4.8 million people and the population density varies from 230 to 1,400 people per square kilometre.^[6] Christianity is the predominant religion.

In addition to English being the official language, Imo state is a predominantly Igbo speaking state, with Igbo people constituting a majority of 98%.^[22]

Education

There are several institutions of higher learning including state and federal government run institutions. They are as follows:

• Imo State University


• 
  Federal University of Technology, Owerri^[23]
  


• Federal Polytechnic, Nekede


• 
  Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, Ideato


• Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo


• Alvan Ikoku College of Education


• Technological Skills Acquisition Institute, Orlu
  

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 (2013)


• 
  Christian Okoye – former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs


• 
  Samuel Okwaraji (1964–1989) – 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


• 
  Charly Boy – hip hop singer and activist


• 
  Rita Dominic – Nigerian actress


• 
  Osita Iheme – actor


• 
  Kanayo O. Kanayo – actor


• 
  Judith Chichi Opara Mazagwu – Nigerian actress, musician and businesswoman


• 
  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


• 
  Philippe Yannick Iwuegbu – song writer, Actor and Comedian

Politics

• 
  Pats Acholonu – Supreme Court Justice


• 
  Chris Anyanwu – journalist and senator


• 
  Ifeanyi Ararume – former senator of Okigwe zone (1999-2007)


• 
  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


• 
  Collins E. Ijoma – youngest US Trial Court Administrator


• 
  Maurice Iwu – former INEC chairman


• 
  Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu – politician and businessman


• 
  Daniel Kanu – politician, businessman and philanthropist; organizer of 2 Million Man March, the largest gathering in Nigerian history


• 
  K. O. Mbadiwe – former Minister of Commerce and Industry


• 
  Sam Mbakwe – former Governor


• 
  Raymond Njoku – former Minister of Transportation


• 
  Arthur Nzeribe – former Senator Orlu Zone, Member of the Senate of Nigeria in the 4th National Assembly (1999-2003,


• 
  Chinwe Obaji – professor and former Minister of Education


• 
  Walter Ofonagoro – former Minister of Information and Culture


• 
  Ikedi Ohakim – former governor


• 
  Rochas Okorocha – present governor


• 
  Fabian Osuji – former Minister of Education


• 
  Ugonna Ozurigbo – Deputy Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly (2015–), and Member


• 
  Achike Udenwa – former Governor

Other

• 
  Adiele Afigbo – historian


• 
  Michael Echeruo – academic and writer in Igbo studies


• 
  Michael Ikoku — businessman


• 
  Evelyn Okere – Nigerian businesswoman, publisher, fashion designer and the organizer of the St. Eve West African Fashion Week

References

External links

• Official site


• Latest news