A startup in Imo Digital City Limited Showcases Locally Made Phones as Dr Amadi Leads Investor Tour

The delegation was led by the Honourable Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Governance, Dr Chimezie Amadi, alongside the Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Talent Development, Dr Emeka Mandela, and the Special Adviser to the Imo State Government on Narcotics. They were joined by prominent local economic figures, technology entrepreneurs, investors and foreign partners drawn from across the sector. The visitors were received by the management of Imo Digital City Limited, who facilitated a guided tour of the tech hub and its various operational units.

A central highlight of the visit was a stop at the Imose phone and laptop assembly plant, situated within the Imo Digital City Limited complex. Imose, a Nigerian technology manufacturer with an established record in producing affordable consumer electronics for the local market, has in recent years expanded its assembly operations beyond its original bases in Lagos and Edo State, with Owerri emerging as its latest site of operation in the South East.

During the visit, plant management presented a range of devices assembled at the Owerri facility, including compact button-style mobile phones and smartphones offered at prices considerably lower than similar imported alternatives available elsewhere in the Nigerian market. Members of the press in attendance were given the opportunity to inspect the devices at close range, with many observers remarking on the standard of finish and build quality achieved by the plant.

Officials at the facility also walked guests through the machinery and production processes used in assembling the devices, offering insight into the operational milestones recorded since the plant began work in Owerri. The presentation formed part of a broader effort by Imo Digital City Limited to demonstrate the tangible outputs of its digital economy infrastructure to both local and international stakeholders.

Following the tour of the assembly plant, the delegation proceeded to visit other start-up ventures operating within the Imo Digital City Limited complex, which houses a range of technology-focused enterprises alongside its flagship skills and innovation programmes.

Imo Digital City Limited has positioned itself as a cornerstone of the state government's digital economy agenda, combining incubation support for start-ups with large-scale skills training initiatives such as SkillUp Imo and the Founder Dojo programme. The complex has also attracted partnerships with international institutions and technology firms as part of efforts to build a self-sustaining digital ecosystem in the South East.

Officials and stakeholders who took part in the tour expressed confidence that the presence of manufacturing operations such as Imose's assembly plant, alongside the other start-ups domiciled at the hub, signals a significant step forward for Imo State's ambitions in the digital economy space. With local production capacity now taking root within the complex, observers say the state is positioning itself to compete favourably with other parts of Nigeria pursuing similar technology-driven growth strategies.

The visit is the latest in a series of engagements involving government officials, investors and technology partners at Imo Digital City Limited, reflecting sustained interest in the hub since its establishment. State officials have consistently framed the project as central to the administration's broader vision of building a digital-first economy in Imo State, driven by the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma and supported by the ministries and agencies working to advance the state's technology and innovation infrastructure.