In a bid to revitalize Imo State’s economy, Dr. Chima Matthew Amadi has proposed an 8-point agenda that promises to revive legacy industries, create jobs, and boost the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) and GDP. The proposal was made during an interactive session held on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
According to Dr. Amadi, the state’s legacy industries, such as Avutu Poultry, Adapalm, Standard Shoe Company, and Imo Rubber Plantation, can be revived through public-private partnerships (PPPs). He proposed the launch of a PPP-based industrial revival fund to attract private investors into these dormant industries. This, he said, could revive ₦100-₦130 billion in annual revenue, create over 30,000 jobs, and boost Imo’s IGR and GDP by over 20%.
Dr. Amadi’s 8-point agenda includes:
1. Public-Private Partnership-led industrial recovery
2. Industrial revival and economic transformation
3. Primary healthcare reform
4. Education and human capital development
5. Agriculture and food security
6. Governance and fiscal reforms
7. Innovation, youth, and diaspora engagement
8. Security and enabling environment
Some of the key proposals include establishing a State Industrial Revitalization Fund (SIRF) to revive dormant industries, creating industrial parks and agro-processing zones, and launching a state-level community-based health insurance scheme. Dr. Amadi also proposed increasing the education budget to 15-20% and health budget to 10-15%, and introducing education and health sector bonds to fund infrastructure sustainably.
Dr. Amadi’s proposals are aimed at transforming Imo State’s economy and improving the lives of its citizens. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, many are optimistic that his vision for a new Imo State can become a reality.