IMO STATE AND ITS ENVIRONSImo is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies in the South East of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city. Located in the south-eastern region of Nigeria, it occupies the area between the lower River Niger and the upper and middle Imo River. LocationImo 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. 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. The main cities in Imo State are Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe.Rivers and LakesThe 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 Njaba River, Oguta Lake, Utu River and Awbana River in the State. 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 ResourcesThe state is rich in natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead and zinc. Economically exploitable flora including iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm predominate. Other natural resources found in the State are white clay, fine sand and limestone. Besides Owerri, Imo State's major towns are Isu, Okigwe, Oguta, Orlu,Atta Ikeduru, Akokwa, Mbaise, Mbaitoli, Mbieri, Orodo, Nkwerre, Ubulu, Ngor Okpala, Omuma, Mgbidi, Awo-Omamma, Izombe and Orsu.Oil and Gas ExplorationThere are over 163 oil wells at over 12 different locations in the State. The main petroleum companies operating in the state are Addax Petroleum, Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell and Agip. Some of the established oil-rich and producing Local Government Councils include Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Oru West, Obowo and Ngor Okpala. Trade and Investment OpportunitiesMany trade and investment opportunities abound in the peaceful State including Oil and Gas Exploration, Chemical Plants, Brewery Plants, Hydroelectricity and Gas-Fired Power Plants, Grain Milling, Starch Production, Cashew Product Industry, Fruit and Vegetable Juice Concentrate Production, Integrated Multi-Oil Seeds Processing Plant, Ceramic Industry, Inland Waterway Transport, Integrated Palm Produce Industry et al. In addition to presence of oil and gas investors, independent global brewer, Heineken through its subsidiary Nigerian Breweries has significant investment in Imo State. The company manages the world-class Awo-omamma Brewery, a multiple-line brewery plant. Many more opportunities in oil and gas are yet to be fully exploited. The Federal Government has been called to inspect newly discovered oil-rich council areas for possible exploration in order to increase the presence of the federal government in the State and the region, which would enable economic development and job creation. Establishment of 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. No doubt, production centers would employ large number of labor. 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. AgricultureThe economy of the State depends primarily on agriculture and commerce. The chief occupation of the people is farming. However, with a high population density and over farming the soil has been degraded and much of the native vegetation has disappeared. Their cash crops include oil palm, raffia palm, rice, groundnut, melon, cotton, cocoa, rubber, maize, etc. food crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam and maize are also produced in large quantities. ClimateThe rainy season begins in April and lasts until October with annual rainfall varying from 1,500mm to 2,200mm (60 to 80 inches). 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. With high population density and over farming, the soil has been degraded and much of the native vegetation has disappeared. This deforestation has triggered soil erosion which is compounded by heavy seasonal rainfall that has led to the destruction of houses and roads.

HistoryImo 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.GovernmentThe 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 PartyNdubuisi 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 NPPIke 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 NRCJames 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 PDPIkedi G. Ohakim Governor 29 May 2007 29 May 2011 PPA / PDPOwelle 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 stateThe 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

LanguageEnglish and IgboLocal Government AreasImo 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%.EducationThere 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 PEOPLESports

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.

References1.

"2006 Population Census" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria. May 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2010. "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Caeeeanback Dangel. Retrieved 20 August 2008. Vanguard, Nigeria (June 2, 2015). "Exploring the resource control option – Imo State, by Futureview CEO, Elizabeth Ebi". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved November 30, 2015. "About Imo State". Imo State, Nigeria: Imo State Government. Retrieved 27 July 2010. Okoro, B.C.; et al. (2014). "River Basins of Imo State for Sustainable Water Resources Management" (PDF). Civil & Environmental Engineering (4.1). Retrieved January 16, 2016. Cosmas Ahamefule Ahiarakwem; et al. (2012). "Water Quality Monitoring of a Tropical Lake and Associated Rivers: A Case Study of Oguta Lake and Its Tributaries, Niger Delta Basin, Southeastern Nigeria" (PDF). Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2016. "Industries in Imo State". Imo State, Nigeria: Imo State Government. Retrieved 27 July 2010. Vanguard, Nigeria (March 14, 2014). "Imo Govt discovers more crude oil". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved November 30, 2015. "HEINEKEN majority owned subsidiaries Nigerian Breweries plc and Consolidated Breweries plc to merge". www.theheinekencompany.com. May 9, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2016. "Nigerian Breweries invests N3bn in Awo-Omamma, N18bn in Aba Breweries". beverageindustrynews.com.ng. December 8, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016. Vanguard, Nigeria (March 14, 2014). "Imo Govt discovers more crude oil". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved January 16, 2016. "Niger Delta Region Land and People" (PDF). www.nddc.gov.ng. Federal Republic of Nigeria. Retrieved January 16, 2016. Wordtravels.com "Regions Used to Interpret the Complexity of Nigeria". Geographical Alliance of Iowa. University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 19 July 2007. Africatalksclimate.com Allafrica.com "Physical Setting: Imo State". OnlineNigeria.com. Devace Nigeria. Retrieved 13 August 2007. http://www.facebook.com/officialugonnaozurigbo Onlinenigeria.com "Local Government Organization in Imo State". Library of Congress Pamphlet Collection – Flickr. Retrieved 11 May 2014.