The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Jane Egerton-Idehen, has described Imo State as a rising digital innovation hub, noting that the state is quietly positioning itself as the “Silicon Valley of the East” through deliberate investments in digital infrastructure, talent development, and strategic global partnerships.

Egerton-Idehen made the remarks after a visit to the Imo State Digital City, where she spent time with the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, and toured the growing technology ecosystem being developed by the state government.

According to her, the initiative represents a strong example of sub-national digital transformation, driven by policy innovation, talent development, and partnerships with global technology companies.

She noted that the Imo Digital City project is being built through collaborations with major international and local technology players including Microsoft, Zinox Technologies, Wakanow, University of California, Berkeley and Huawei, ensuring that the infrastructure and technological frameworks being deployed meet global standards.

Policy Leadership in Digital Economy

A key component of the state’s strategy, she said, is its early decision to establish a dedicated Ministry of Digital Economy, the first of its kind among Nigerian states. The ministry, led by Chimezie Amadi, has helped streamline the transition from policy formulation to practical implementation of digital initiatives.

Egerton-Idehen said this institutional structure has enabled Imo State to move quickly in building a coordinated technology ecosystem capable of supporting startups, digital services, and technology-driven governance.

Building Talent at Scale

She also highlighted the state’s focus on talent development through the SkillUpImo programme, which trains more than 30,000 young people annually in digital and technology skills.

Beyond training, the programme equips participants with laptops and integrates them directly into startup environments and state development teams, helping to create a sustainable talent pipeline for the local technology ecosystem.

Integrated Digital Infrastructure

The NIGCOMSAT chief noted that the Digital City project goes beyond a traditional technology park, describing it as a digital operating system for the state’s economy.

Facilities within the ecosystem include business process outsourcing and call centre operations, a robotics laboratory, artificial intelligence training facilities, device repair and assembly hubs, and digital advertising services, including operations by tech startup AdMint.

She praised the state government for prioritising execution alongside infrastructure development, noting that several startups operating within the digital city are already generating revenue even before the full completion of the physical infrastructure.

Digital Governance Platforms

Another highlight of the state’s digital transformation effort is the MyImo App, a digital platform designed to serve as a one-stop portal for government services. The platform also facilitates business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-business (G2B) interactions, improving service delivery and access to public sector services.

According to Egerton-Idehen, the platform already has over 50,000 users in a state with a population estimated at about 5.4 million people, demonstrating growing public engagement with digital governance tools.

Attracting Technology Talent and Investment

Egerton-Idehen observed that the emerging digital ecosystem in Imo State is beginning to influence technology talent migration within Nigeria, with increasing interest from entrepreneurs and technology communities.

She revealed that discussions are already underway for players from the renowned technology market cluster in Computer Village in Lagos to establish similar operations in Imo.

Industry observers say the initiative reflects a broader trend where state governments are increasingly playing a critical role in driving Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions, especially as the country pursues its long-term goal of building a $1 trillion economy.

Egerton-Idehen concluded by calling on founders, investors and technology leaders across Nigeria to begin paying closer attention to the opportunities emerging in the eastern region.

“Imo is no longer just the heartland,” she said. “It is rapidly becoming a premier startup launchpad.”