Imo Development Plan 2034 will spur multi-sectoral development, says gov’s aide

By Peter Okolie

The Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to Gov. Hope Uzodimma says the Imo Development Plan 2034 will spur multi-sectoral  development in the state, if fully implemented.

The Chief Economic Adviser to Uzodimma, Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi, said this on Friday, while declaring a workshop open in Owerri.

Amaeshi said that the draft of the 10-year principle-based development plan had been reviewed by his office, in collaboration with Imo  statekeholders.

He said the stakeholders’ engagement was aimed at harnessing ideas on the practical measures that would ensure the implementation of the plan beyond Uzodimma’s administration.

“The exercise is aimed at focusing on the optimistic solution-driven ideas.

“We have looked at the existing data and done a survey and, based on that, we created a draft, which we need to validate by the stakeholders, so we can get inputs and appropriate feedback,” he said.

The governor’s aide said that his office was also conducting an essay competition for Imo youths between 18 and 40 years to capture their voices about their dream concerning Imo by 2040.

According to him, in Nigeria, we don’t lack policies, but we have a lot of policy summersault and problem of implementation.

“We are exploring ways of making the Imo House of Assembly pass a law to make the elements of the plan binding on whoever takes over from the current government.

“We also want to ensure that the Development Plan aligns with our budgeting cycle,” he further said.

Amaeshi, a professor of Business and Sustainable Development, University of Edinburg, Scotland, disclosed that the Imo Development Plan would be presented to the people by August.

The Consultant handling the project, Prof. Martin Ikemuonso, while presenting the draft for review, said the plan was expected to impact positively on poverty eradication and reduction in unemployment.

Ikemuonso also said that the plan also focuses on improvement in life expectancy, increase in revenue growth rate, healthy per capita income and reduction in mortality rate.

He said the drivers are expected to reflect social development, good governance and economic development with an expectation to deliver on the first milestone in 2026.

He said the focus areas are all aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One of the stakeholders and the President, Owerri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Tony Amadi, commended the development plan initiative.

However, Amadi called for timely release of bank loans and robust partnership between the organised private sector and state government in order to actualise the plan.

(NAN)