Awka City Action Plan: Stakeholders Meet, Validate City Profiling Findings For AfDB African Cities Programme
By David Okpokwasili
The implementation of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) African Cities Programme for Awka Capital Territory has recorded a major milestone with the project consultant, Acciona, a Spanish consultancy team, presenting the outcome of their initial profiling findings to critical stakeholders for validation.
At Awka City Action Plan larticipatory workshop where the findings were presented, the stakeholders scrutinised the initial findings, identified priority needs, ensured that the final city profile accurately reflects the realities and development opportunities within Awka before validating the findings.
The validated findings will then form part of a final report to be submitted to the African Development Bank.
Speaking to the ABS, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, Mr Ossy Onuko, explained that Awka Capital Territory was selected as the only Nigerian city participating in the 2026 cohort of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) African Cities Programme – being implemented under the AfDB’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund and provides technical and financial assistance to emerging African cities to support their development in line with global standards.
He further explained that though ACTDA is the lead implementation agency of the project, participants in the workshop are multi-sectoral underscoring that the development and future planning of the capital territory will cut across several organs of the Anambra State Government.
The Leader of the Team from Acciona, Mr Claudio Aciolg Jnr said the workshop is one in many of its major consultations with government officials, city leaders, community representatives and civil society leading to the identification of key challenges affecting the city, including drainage, water supply, roads, urban planning, housing, land delivery and institutional coordination.
Mr Aciolg Jnr validation workshop was used to confirm these priorities and determine the specific actions, objectives, responsible institutions, locations and financing mechanisms required and will culminate in an action plan containing concrete project interventions aimed at addressing Awka’s development challenges and bringing measurable changes to the city.
The workshop which featured group discussions was attended by representatives of community stakeholders, top government officials from the state and local government areas in the capital city including Commissioner for Environment, Dr Clem Aguiyi and the Mayor of Awka South Local Government Area, Prince Chinedu Okafor.
