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.
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.
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.
|
Name
|
Title
|
Took Office
|
Left Office
|
Party
|
|
Ndubuisi Kanu
|
Governor
|
Mar 1976
|
1977
|
(Military)
|
|
Adekunle Lawal
|
Governor
|
1977
|
Jul 1978
|
(Military)
|
|
Sunday Ajibade Adenihun
|
Governor
|
Jul 1978
|
Oct 1979
|
(Military)
|
|
Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe
|
Governor
|
1 Oct 1979
|
31 Dec 1983
|
NPP
|
|
Ike Nwachukwu
|
Governor
|
Jan 1984
|
Aug 1985
|
(Military)
|
|
Allison Amakoduna Madueke
|
Governor
|
Aug 1985
|
1986
|
(Military)
|
|
Amadi Ikwechegh
|
Governor
|
1986
|
1990
|
(Military)
|
|
Anthony E. Oguguo
|
Governor
|
Aug 1990
|
Jan 1992
|
(Military)
|
|
Evan Enwerem
|
Governor
|
Jan 1992
|
Nov 1993
|
NRC
|
|
James N.J. Aneke
|
Administrator
|
9 Dec 1993
|
22 Aug 1996
|
(Military)
|
|
Tanko Zubairu
|
Administrator
|
22 Aug 1996
|
May 1999
|
(Military)
|
|
Achike Udenwa
|
Governor
|
29 May 1999
|
29 May 2007
|
PDP
|
|
Ikedi G. Ohakim
|
Governor
|
29 May 2007
|
29 May 2011
|
PPA / PDP
|
|
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha
|
Governor
|
29 May 2011
|
To Date
|
APC
|
The legislative arm is headed by the Speaker of the State
House of Assembly who is currently speaker Rt. Hon. Ihenacho Ihim and his
deputy, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo. 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
customary court of appeal and is headed by the Chief Judge of the state.
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
Language
English and Igbo
Local Government Areas
Imo State consists of twenty-seven (27) Local Government Areas. They are:
- Aboh Mbaise Ahiazu Mbaise Ehime Mbano Ezinihitte Mbaise
- Ideato North Ideato South Ihitte/Uboma Ikeduru
- Isiala Mbano Isu Mbaitoli Ngor Okpala
- Njaba Nkwerre Nwangele Obowo
- Oguta Ohaji/Egbema Okigwe Onuimo
- Orlu Orsu Oru East Oru West
- Owerri Municipal Owerri North Owerri West
Demographics
The state is over 4.8 million people and the population
density varies from 230–1,400 people per square kilometre. Christianity is the
predominant religion.
In addition to English being official language, Imo state
is a predominantly Igbo speaking state, with Igbo people
constituting a majority of 98%.
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.
- Federal Polytechnic, Nekede
- Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo
- Alvan Ikoku College of Education
NOTABLE PEOPLE
Sports
- Uzoma Okeke - Canadian Football League Hall of Famer
- Chioma Ajunwa – 1996 Olympic gold long jumper
- Nwankwo Kanu – National footballer
- Emmanuel Amunike – 1994 African Player of the Year and Olympic-winning soccer star
- Samuel Okwaraji – was a National Footballer (19 May 1964 – 12 August 1989)
- Prince Amukamara – Cornerback for the New York Giants
- Kelechi Iheanacho – Striker for Manchester City, U-17 World Cup winner and tournament's MVP (2013)
- Nze Amanze -althlete for federal university of technology owerri
Arts
- Alban Uzoma Nwapa – Eurodance musician
- Christogonus Ezebuiro Obinna – Highlife musician
- Genevieve Nnaji – Nollywood actress
- John Munonye – Author
- Judith Chichi Opara Mazagwu - Nigerian actress, musician and businesswoman
- Kanayo O. Kanayo- Actor
- Clem Ohameze- Actor
- Obianuju Catherine Acholonu – Author
- Onyeka Nwelue- Author, scholar, actor, entrepreneur
- Onyeka Onwenu – Singer, actress and politician
- Osita Iheme – Actor
- Florence Anaele- Academia
- Rita Dominic, Nigerian actress
- Stephanie Okereke- Actress
Politics
- Professor (Mrs) Viola Adaku Onwuliri, Former Supervising Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Education
- Pats Acholonu – Supreme Court Justice
- Professor Edward Oparaoji, Prime Mover, NADECO USA & Renowned Human Rights Activist
- Christina Anyanwu – journalist and senator
- Kema Chikwe – former Minister of Aviation
- Evan Enwerem – former governor and former President of the Senate
- Ikedi Ohakim – former governor
- Rochas Okorocha – present governor
- Collins E. Ijoma – the youngest US Trial Court Administrator
- Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu – politician and businessman
- K. O. Mbadiwe – former Minister of Commerce and Industry
- Sam Mbakwe – former Governor
- Fabian Osuji – former Minister of Education
- Achike Udenwa – former Governor
- Maurice Iwu – former INEC chairman
- Sir Jude Ejiogu – Chief of Staff
- Chinwe Obaji – Professor and former Minister of Education
- Chief S. E. Onukogu - Former Minister Eastern Region & Delegate to London Constitutional Convention
- Raymond Njoku - Former Minister of Transportation
- Ifeanyi Araraume- Former Senator
Other
- Late Professor Celestine O.E. Onwuliri, former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO)
- Evelyn Okere – Nigerian businesswoman, publisher, fashion designer and the organizer of the St. Eve West African Fashion Week.
- Leo Stan Ekeh – founder and CEO of Zinox Technologies
- Adiele Afigbo – historian
- Michael Echeruo – academic and writer in Igbo studies
- Okonkwo Chibuike III – Infrastructure and Trade Professional
- Ukachukwu Okorie - Writer, Editor AfricaWorld News Dublin, Ireland
- Sebastian Okechukwu Mezu, Ph.D – Writer, Scholar, Philanthropist and Publisher. Founder, Black Academy Press, Buffalo, New York.
- Alagwu Dominic - Formal Chairman of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Imo State, Philanthropist, Proprietor of Alagwu Technical College.
- Okey Ikoro - Industrialist and CEO of Camela Vegetable Oil Company Limited and Gateway Industries Limited
- Late Professor Kevin Eletuwa Ihejirika, Foremost Orthopaedic Surgeon and Academician of repute.
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