Uzodimma: Govt, Private Sector Must Partner to Create Rural Jobs, Tackle Poverty

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma emphasized the necessity of rural job creation and private sector collaboration to alleviate poverty in Nigeria. Addressing the Lagos Country Club's "Policy Dialogue with Government Leaders," the governor highlighted that 80 percent of the nation's poor reside in rural areas, underscoring the urgent need for local economic development.

While government cannot single-handedly generate sufficient jobs, it must create an enabling atmosphere that attracts private investment and fosters employment opportunities. Uzodimma cautioned that the country's cities were saturated, and as people moved faster than cities could create jobs, abandoned rural areas became problematic.

He proposed developing rural environments where small and medium-scale businesses could flourish. The governor warned that neglected regions had expressed their discontent through voting and more violent means, and that a local economy empowering young people in peace would be a critical security investment. He stressed that rural areas held the majority of Nigeria's impoverished and that idle local economies led to crime and insecurity.

According to the latest national survey, there are nearly 40 million small enterprises contributing nearly half of the GDP and nearly every job created. However, these businesses face challenges such as unreliable power, scarce and expensive finance, poor roads, multiple taxation, and high government transaction costs. Uzodimma stressed that government infrastructure improvements directly benefit these businesses.

He also unveiled the Orashi Special Energy Free Zone in Ohaji/Egbema, a state initiative aimed at attracting investors in gas and energy to process and add value close to local resources. Despite acknowledging the need for more work, Uzodimma affirmed that private capital would not flow into areas lacking basic infrastructure, making infrastructure provision the primary responsibility of states seeking grassroots economic growth.