President Bola Tinubu has described the Igbo as pivotal to Nigeria’s survival and progress, declaring them the “greatest stakeholders in the Nigerian project.” The President’s message was delivered in Owerri by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Imo Economic Stakeholders Summit on Tuesday.
Speaking on behalf of the President, Shettima praised the enterprising spirit of the Igbo, noting that their mobility, business acumen and pursuit of education have made them indispensable to the nation’s growth.
“The Igbo are geographically mobile, economically enterprising and educationally ambitious,” Shettima said. “This country is stronger with Ndigbo fully involved. Our collective responsibility is to provide the opportunities and platforms for them to reach even greater heights.”
He went further to stress their sweeping influence across Nigeria:
“Half of Abuja is owned by Ndigbo. Nearly half of Lagos is populated by Ndigbo. There is no part of this country you will not find them. In fact, if you enter a place and you don’t see Ndigbo, you should think twice about staying there.”
The President assured the Imo business community that his administration is committed to supporting key investment sectors in the state and working with local stakeholders to unlock economic opportunities.
“Imo is open for business. Nigeria is open for business,” he said. “This government stands with you as a partner in progress.”
Tinubu also stressed the need for Nigeria to shift from dependence on natural resources to an innovation-driven economy, noting that global competitiveness is now built on technology, creativity and knowledge systems.
“The most successful nations today are those investing heavily in technology and putting innovation at the centre of their development strategies,” he said. “Innovation must define Nigeria’s next phase of growth.”
He emphasised that balanced national development requires every region to utilise its strengths, insisting that Nigeria can only prosper when all states harness their comparative advantages.
“The promise of Imo State is clear,” he noted. “This state has the potential to become a hub of abundance. Its emerging digital infrastructure already positions it to attract ICT investments and drive a modern information economy.”
Tinubu concluded that Imo’s economic prospects signal a state ready not just for investment, but for full-scale transformation, urging stakeholders to seize the momentum.