Imo govt ready to commission Orashi Electricity Company

…As Uzodinma hosts cultural night to mark Imo @50

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has said that the Orashi Electricity Company, the state-owned electricity firm, was set to switch on its first power generation line.

Uzodinma gave the information at an event where Nollywood stars, pop and highlife music legends of Imo State extraction commended his achievements which they said have brought the state to a national and global limelight.

In his brief remarks at a Cultural Night to mark the 50th year of the creation of Imo State, the governor noted that electricity was key to an enhanced entertainment industry, and reminded the audience that all the hiccups against the Light Up Imo Project by Orashi Electricity Company had been removed, and that the state was ready to provide her own electricity.

At the Cultural Nite held at the Eze Imo Palace in Owerri as part of the activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Imo State, the entertainment icons – pop/highlife musicians, actors and actresses, comedians, poets, artists, drummers- brought back the memories of good music, poems, acting, and more with their performances that align with the years preceding the birth of Imo.

They had earlier solicited the governor’s intervention in ensuring that the entertainment industry in Imo State is given its pride of place in the country because of what they termed the huge talents that exist in the state.

In his brief remarks at the event, Governor Uzodinma described electricity as key to an enhanced entertainment industry, and reminded the audience that all the obstacles against the “Light Up Imo Project” by Orashi Electricity Company had been removed, and the state was ready to provide her own power.

Uzodinma thanked the legends across the entertainment industry for being part of the Imo State celebration at 50, and pledged not to relent on the things that will bring development to Imo State.

He thanked them also for recognising the efforts his administration is making to change the narrative and reminded them that nation (state) building requires all hands to be on deck.
Noting that Imo State remains the tourism centre of the South East, he promised to ensure that the entertainment industry in Imo State was developed in such a manner that every talent in the sector will be properly deployed.

“Count me as one of you. We will work together to ensure that the potential of the industry is fully harnessed,” he said.

Earlier, Ernest Ibejiakor, commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, who is also chairman of the cultural subcommittee for the Imo @50 celebration, thanked the pop stars of the ’70s for finding time to grace the Nite.

He highlighted the gains from the cultural night, saying that the story of Imo State could not be complete without a proper evaluation of the role played by certain Imo indigenes before, during and after the creation of the state.