Imo State has emerged as the top state in Nigeria for digital innovation and entrepreneurship development, according to the State of Entrepreneurship Index Report by the FATE Institute. The report ranks Imo State ahead of the other 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The index is an annual measure of entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, and Imo State was found to have scored maximum points in all five parameters considered in the study: business performance, skills acquisition, innovation and digital technology adoption, perception of future opportunities, and enabling business environment. Each parameter carries 20 points.
Imo State scored 17, 16, 18, 22, and eight points, respectively, giving it an aggregate Index Score of 82 points. The state outperformed the first runner-up, Bauchi, by 10 points, while Bauchi and Delta scored 72 and 70 points, respectively.
The report ranks Kaduna, Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, Ogun, and Kano in 8th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 21st place, respectively while the FCT was ranked last.
Dr. Chimezie Amadi, the Imo State Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, expressed satisfaction that the state’s digital entrepreneurship initiative for youths was yielding positive results. Amadi credited the success to the SkillUpImo Project, as well as other people-centered initiatives under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The initiative aims to train 300,000 youths in the state, with 5,000 already trained in various digital skills. Amadi noted that the Uzodimma administration is committed to driving greater entrepreneurship and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, with big organizations and tech giants already partnering with Imo State.
The State of Entrepreneurship Index Report provides quantifiable information that can help policymakers assess interventions against a set of indicators, including business performance, skill acquisition, innovation and technology adoption, perception of opportunities, and an enabling business environment.
