EDITORIAL: ACTDA, Awka’s Admission to the AfDB African Cities Programme, and Soludo’s Vision

By Tony Okafor

Sustainable development occurs when leaders build systems that attract investment, guide growth, and improve citizens’ quality of life over the long term.

In Anambra, the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, is increasingly playing that strategic role.

For years, Awka carried the unenviable label of a glorified local government headquarters. Rapid urbanisation, weak planning frameworks, and infrastructure deficits constrained its growth and prevented it from reflecting the status of a state capital.

That narrative is changing.
Under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, deliberate efforts are underway to transform Awka into a modern, functional, globally competitive capital.

Central to this is ACTDA, which now coordinates planning, development control, and the long-term vision for the capital territory.

The clearest validation of this progress is Awka’s admission into the African Development Bank’s African Cities Programme. The initiative helps cities strengthen governance, improve planning systems, and prepare investment-ready projects that attract development financing.

Awka’s admission followed a rigorous assessment of its institutional capacity, governance structures, growth prospects, and commitment to sustainable urban management. It is a significant vote of confidence in the direction of both city and state.

The programme enables cities to identify unique priorities, strengthen capacity to manage growth, and package projects that attract development partners and private investment.

Through it, Awka will undergo a comprehensive diagnostic covering infrastructure, housing, transport, environment, economic development, public services, and institutional capacity. The outcome will be a strategic investment roadmap tailored to the city’s needs.

The engagements with AfDB consultants and prospective investors should therefore not be viewed only as urban renewal. Opportunities may emerge in transport, housing, water, energy, technology, environment, tourism, and commerce—sectors that can strengthen Awka’s role as Anambra’s administrative and economic hub.

This reflects global best practice where development partners identify sectors with the greatest impact rather than impose preset projects. Every city has unique strengths, and sustainable progress depends on leveraging them.

The engagement of Acciona, a respected global infrastructure consultancy, to develop a City Action Plan with ACTDA further underscores the seriousness of the initiative. The plan will provide a framework for future investments aligned with international standards.

For decades, many Nigerian cities expanded without adequate planning, resulting in congestion, poor land use, and weak services. Awka now has a chance to chart a different course through data-driven planning, strategic investment, and institutional coordination.

Governor Soludo deserves credit for creating the policy environment that made this possible. His vision of a prosperous, livable, investment-friendly Anambra depends on a capital city that inspires confidence and drives growth.

ACTDA’s management under Dr. Ossy Onuko also deserves commendation for securing AfDB’s interest in Awka. Positioning the city within a continental development framework demonstrates foresight and institutional competence.

The significance extends beyond Awka. It shows Nigerian cities can attract global attention and investment through planning, accountability, innovation, and strong institutions. It also highlights the value of governance structures that look beyond political cycles.

Government, the private sector, and civil society must now work together to maximise these opportunities.

There is ample reason for optimism. Awka is evolving from a city of unrealised potential into one guided by strategy and growing international confidence. It is positioning itself for investments tailored to its needs.

This partnership among ACTDA, the Soludo administration, and the African Development Bank will define the next chapter of Awka’s development. It would prove that vision, strong institutions, and purposeful planning remain the surest foundations for lasting progress.

For a capital once criticised for falling short of its status, this achievement is remarkable and instructive. It reminds us that the future belongs to cities that prepare for it.