Awka admitted into AfDB continental cities programme

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By Madu Obi

Awka, the capital of Anambra State, has been admitted into the African Development Bank, AfDB, continental cities programme, which is a major urban development initiative designed to prepare rapidly growing African cities for large-scale infrastructure investment.

Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Dr. Osita Onuko, said a team from the bank will arrive Anambra State on Sunday as part of ongoing engagements to actualize the programme.

Onuko said the process began in 2024 when ACTDA applied for inclusion in the continent-wide initiative aimed at strengthening urban planning systems, institutional capacity and investment readiness in emerging African cities.

According to him, the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF), acting on behalf of the AfDB, formally confirmed Awka's admission into the programme in September 2025 after evaluating the city's development prospects under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo and assessing the state's institutional framework and commitment to urban development.

Onuko said the programme targets rapidly expanding secondary cities where infrastructure development and urban planning have struggled to keep pace with rapid population growth.

He explained that following a competitive procurement process conducted by the AfDB, a globally recognized urban development and infrastructure planning firm, ACCIONA, was selected as the programme's technical consulting partner.

ACCIONA, he added, will work with ACTDA to undertake a comprehensive city diagnostic study and develop a City Action Plan that will serve as a roadmap for future bankable infrastructure projects and investment opportunities in Awka.

Onuko said the visit would commence with a guided tour of the capital city and a formal kick-off meeting involving the state's technical leadership.

He added that the meeting would produce agreements on the programme's work plan, identify key investment priorities such as sustainable mobility and green infrastructure, clarify institutional and data requirements, and establish implementation and communication frameworks.

He said that the visit will include extensive data gathering, stakeholder consultations and technical assessments, expressing optimism that the exercise would help shape Awka's urban investment pipeline, enhance project preparation capabilities and position the state to attract substantial financing for critical infrastructure development.

Onuko described Awka's inclusion in the African Cities Programme as a significant milestone that would strengthen the city's long-term development strategy and accelerate its transformation into a modern, sustainable and investment-ready capital city.