According to an official letter submitted to Governor Hope Uzodimma by a delegation from the office of Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, the One Kindred One Business Initiative (OKOBI) poverty alleviation initiative of the Imo State Governor has been adopted as a nationwide programme.
In a formal letter seen by DrumAfricanews, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima commended Governor Hope Uzodimma’s One Kindred One Business Initiative (OKOBI) and announced its adoption as a blueprint for youth empowerment, human capital development, and grassroots entrepreneurship across Nigeria.
The vice president in the official letter expressed keen interest in the initiative, which encourages families, kindreds, and small community groups to establish businesses with state support.
The letter reads in part: “I write to inform Your Excellency that I have followed with keen interest the Imo State Government’s One Kindred One Business Initiative (OKOBI) and wish to commend the brilliance of the programme as well as its remarkable achievements within a short time.”
The Vice President further highlighted that the OKOBI model aligns with national priorities for human capital development and revealed that the National Economic Council (NEC) has directed the Human Capital Development (HCD) Secretariat to adopt the OKOBI approach for rollout across all states of the federation.
According to the letter, “The OKOBI model for youth development and economic empowerment means that OKOBI will be put forward for voluntary adoption in all the states and FCT and that the HCD Secretariat will provide the necessary support for its success.”
Shettima acknowledged Governor Uzodimma’s visionary leadership in championing the initiative, noting its potential for scalable national impact through empowered communities and entrepreneurial grassroots development.
“I acknowledge your visionary leadership in championing this model from inception. The model, having empowered communities across Imo State and stirred this national adoption due to its entrepreneurial grassroots approach and potential for scalable impact, aligns with this administration’s national priorities,” Shettima added.
The vice president further said that he will be looking forward to deepening collaboration between the federal government and Imo State to expand the programme’s reach and impact nationwide.
Responding to the letter and the delegation, Governor Hope Uzodimma said that it is good to see how Imo State’s deliberate design and strategic execution of her programmes and initiatives have steadily evolved into a reference point for national development, as their economic impact continues to resonate across communities.
“I was particularly elated to receive a delegation from the Office of the Vice President conveying the decision of the Federal Government to adopt our OKOBI (One Kindred, One Business Initiative).
“This model, which is thoughtfully structured to combat poverty and unemployment, encourages families and kindreds to establish registered, profitable, and sustainable group-owned enterprises.
“With the backing of the federal government, OKOBI is poised to gain the necessary momentum to achieve its full potential at scale. It is a clear indication that the initiative’s impact on the economy has been meaningful and measurable.
“As it is set to be replicated across the 36 states and the FCT, with Imo State as the pilot, we are uniquely positioned to drive inclusive prosperity across every part of our dear state,” Uzodimma said.
DrumAfricanews reports that The One Kindred One Business Initiative (OKOBI) is a flagship economic empowerment programme of the Imo State Government aimed at fostering shared prosperity at the grassroots level.
It encourages kindreds (extended family or community groups) to come together to start and run small businesses, with the state providing training, grants, and other support mechanisms.
Since its inception, the programme has recorded notable success in job creation, particularly among youths, and has gained the endorsement of traditional rulers and various stakeholders in the state.
Recent reports indicate it has already created thousands of jobs through community-driven enterprises, hence its attraction to the federal government and subsequent adoption as a nationwide programme.
The special assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma on public communication, Prince Eze Ugochukwu, said that the federal government’s decision to adopt and scale up OKOBI comes at a critical time when youth unemployment remains a pressing national challenge.
“Vice President Shettima has repeatedly emphasised that entrepreneurship is no longer optional but a necessity for Nigeria’s teeming youth population.
“This development positions Imo State’s homegrown solution as a potential template for other states, promoting financial inclusion, digital adoption, and sustainable economic growth from the bottom up.
“Governor Uzodimma is expected to receive further high-level federal support as the initiative transitions from a state success story to a national model for human capital development and poverty reduction.”
