The Imo Economic Development Initiative (IEDI), a non-profit, non-political think-tank, has put together a brainstorming session to provide a blueprint on the way forward, post COVID-19, for the state.

The session, which will be held online in the light of current realities, will hold on Saturday, July 18, 2020 by 12pm.

With the theme, ‘Imo State post-COVID-19 Recovery and Growth’, participants are encouraged to join the session through the link – https://bit.ly/2O1pmgx

Expected in attendance for the session which will hold via Zoom is Governor Hope Uzodinma.

IEDI is a group of prominent sons and daughters of Imo State invested in the development of the state. Led by its Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, its membership is made up of key stakeholders in the State including captains of industry, experts from the academia, technocrats, globally-renowned entrepreneurs, retired senior military and paramilitary personalities as well as other professionals of Imo origin.

In addition to Prof. Iwu, other expected participants at Saturday’s session include Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; Public Health Specialist and Senior Health Economist, Dr. Francis Ukwujie; renowned economist, banker, lawyer and Harvard-bred scholar, Dr. Emeka Osuji as well as serial entrepreneur and Managing Partner, Grand Central, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, among many others.

One of the organisers, Dr. Osuji, affirms that the session is a timely one, in view of the urgent need to ensure that Imo State comes out of the COVID-19 pandemic stronger.

“The point that has to be noted is that the world economy has collapsed. In the same vein, the economies of nations and sub-national states have also collapsed. A recession is looming and only those who begin fast and quick to put ameliorative measures in place will survive.

“This session will focus on ideas concerning how to restart economies that have been stopped. These economies including the one of Imo have been stopped. So, how do you restart them? We are going to discuss the things that are the missing link, things that are required right away to get the economy back to work.

“The Imo economy is an informal economy or what you call a small and micro-enterprise economy. Usually, these are the people that are worst hit when things like these happen. So, we need to restart them and get the economy going. Quite a lot of things we need to do to retain the people in employment and create new jobs.”

Equally important, the IEDI seeks primarily to contribute to the development of Imo State through private sector funding and leveraging on available Federal and State governments resources as well as possible ventures that would empower the people, create wealth and reduce poverty, while at the same time yielding positive fruits to promoters.

The session commences by 12pm on Saturday and participants are expected to register via the link – https://bit.ly/2O1pmgx

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