By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) has held a one-day staff retreat aimed at strengthening institutional capacity in planning, development, and regulatory compliance.
The retreat, themed “Planning, Development and Regulatory Compliance,” took place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Hilton Leisure Hotel, Awka.
According to the organisers, the programme was designed to equip staff with the knowledge and leadership skills required for efficient service delivery and effective execution of the agency’s mandate within the Awka Capital Territory.
ACTDA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ossy Onuko, said the retreat marked a new phase in the agency’s operations.
“We have eminent personalities here to speak to us. I have come to learn. We are changing gears — this is ACTDA 2.0,” he said.
He urged staff to take the training seriously, describing it as part of a broader institutional reform aimed at improving performance.
“We are here to learn from those who know better than us. Pay attention. We are entering a new phase of ACTDA. Put in life and vigour. It should have been a one-week programme, but we compressed it into one day.
“Let us fully understand what is before us so we can achieve exponential improvement in our performance over the next four years,” he added.
Former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl Olutoyin Ayinde, delivered the keynote address.
Ayinde, a past President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and Second Deputy President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, spoke on sustainable urban planning and development management.
He emphasised strict adherence to planning regulations and global best practices, stressing the importance of human-centred planning, environmental sustainability, and the involvement of all stakeholders in town planning processes, including informal sector operators.
Other speakers included Mr Peter Nwokoye, Chief Executive Officer of Petros Global Enterprises Ltd., who presented a paper titled “Organisational Leadership: Keys Needed to Effectively Execute a Vision.”
Nwokoye commended ongoing infrastructural developments in Awka, particularly road projects, and said ACTDA’s leadership appeared committed and result-driven.
He urged the agency to sustain the momentum and scale its interventions strategically for greater impact.
He also cited Singapore’s transformation after gaining independence in 1965, noting how strong leadership and disciplined governance turned the country into a global economic powerhouse.
He identified governance, trade and finance, education, technology, and industrial development as key drivers of Singapore’s success, describing the country as a model for institutional reform.
Urban development and coordinating city expert, Kabiu Mohammad, said Awka had been selected to benefit from the African Cities Programme of the African Development Bank, aimed at transforming urban infrastructure and city development across Africa.
He said the selection positioned Awka for major infrastructural transformation, adding that a technical committee had already been set up to handle city profiling, stakeholder engagement, and data collection for an action plan.
Public relations and brand development specialist, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, spoke on “Effective Public Engagement and Media Management.”
He stressed the need for transparent communication and strategic stakeholder engagement in public administration.
“ACTDA must own its communication channels,” he said. “If you don’t tell your story, others will tell it for you — often negatively. Communication is central,” Ejimofor stated.
The retreat forms part of ACTDA’s ongoing efforts to improve professionalism, regulatory efficiency, and strategic coordination among staff in line with global best practices in urban development administration.
