Awka set for major boost as AfDB team arrives for African cities programme — ACTDA MD
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is expected to arrive in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, on Sunday as part of activities under its African Cities Programme.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is expected to arrive in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, on Sunday as part of activities under its African Cities Programme.
Acciona, an international urban development and infrastructure planning firm selected by the AfDB as the programme’s technical consulting partner, will represent the bank in conducting a comprehensive urban development assessment of the city.
It would be recalled that the AfDB officially admitted Awka into its African Cities Programme, a major urban development initiative designed to prepare rapidly growing African cities for large-scale infrastructure investments and sustainable urban transformation.
As part of the visit, the AfDB delegation, in collaboration with the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), will inspect strategic locations across the capital city to identify priority areas for infrastructure development and investment.
Osita Onuko, the Managing Director of ACTDA, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in his office in Awka.
According to him, the engagement process began in 2024 when ACTDA applied to participate in the continent-wide programme, which is aimed at strengthening urban planning systems, enhancing institutional capacity, and improving cities’ readiness for infrastructure financing and investment.
He explained that the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF), acting on behalf of the AfDB, confirmed Awka’s admission into the programme in September 2025 after evaluating the city’s development potential, institutional credibility, governance framework, and the support provided by the Anambra State Government and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Onuko noted that the programme targets rapidly expanding secondary cities where urban infrastructure and planning systems have struggled to keep pace with increasing population growth, economic activities, and urbanisation pressures.
He further revealed that following a competitive international procurement process conducted by the AfDB, Acciona was selected as the programme’s technical consulting partner to provide expert support in urban diagnostics, infrastructure planning, and investment preparation.
According to him, the firm will work closely with ACTDA and other relevant stakeholders to undertake a comprehensive city diagnostic study and develop a City Action Plan (CAP), which will serve as a strategic roadmap for future bankable infrastructure projects and investment opportunities within the Awka Capital Territory.
The ACTDA boss disclosed that the Acciona team commenced its first official mission to Awka on May 12, 2026, beginning with an introductory tour of the city and a formal kick-off meeting with the state’s technical leadership and key implementing agencies.
He said the meeting produced several key outcomes, including agreements on the programme’s implementation work plan, identification of priority investment sectors such as sustainable mobility, climate-resilient infrastructure and green urban development, clarification of data and institutional requirements, and the establishment of coordination and communication frameworks for effective implementation.
Onuko added that the programme has now progressed to its next phase, which involves extensive data collection, stakeholder consultations, technical assessments, and urban systems analysis ahead of the second Acciona mission scheduled for June 2026.
He stated that the exercise is expected to strengthen Awka’s urban investment pipeline, improve project preparation capacity, enhance investment readiness, and position the city to attract both public and private sector financing for critical infrastructure projects capable of supporting long-term sustainable urban growth and economic development.
