By TONY OKAFOR
When Governor Chukwuma Soludo recently unveiled his administration’s plan to build a 100-hectare mega leisure park in Anambra State as part of his “Smart City” vision, he did so with characteristic enthusiasm.
Flanked by entertainers and buoyed by the success of the newly opened Solution Fun City in Awka, the governor envisioned a future where, in his words, “the world will be coming to Anambra”—not for its industry or innovation, but for amusement and relaxation.
With the highest respect to His Excellency, this vision is deeply misplaced and starkly divorced from the cultural and economic realities of Anambra.
At a time when the state is in urgent need of economic diversification, job creation, and industrial renewal, pouring billions of naira into leisure parks seems like a misplaced priority—a carnival in the middle of hunger.
Anambra is not Las Vegas. We are traditionally and culturally an enterprising people. Our legacy is built on commerce, innovation, industry, and a fierce survival spirit.
From Onitsha’s sprawling markets to Nnewi’s manufacturing nerve centre, to the rising startup energy in Awka, the average Anambra person is defined not by a thirst for leisure but by a hunger to build and create.
When the governor observed that Anambra people “destroyed all leisure facilities and built markets and skyscrapers,” he wasn’t describing a cultural flaw but a calculated economic response. Our people do not destroy fun—they prioritize survival and growth.
Rather than attempt to “revert” this instinct for productivity, the government should harness and strengthen it.
The priority at this critical moment should be industry, not amusement parks. The factories we build today will feed the families of tomorrow. The agro-processing plants, industrial clusters, power projects, and manufacturing ventures will do far more to attract real investment and tourism than any fun city could.
Let the state first create wealth before it invests heavily in ways to enjoy it.
The absence of public consultation on this matter raises a serious concern. A responsible government must reflect the will of the people and not superimpose what it thinks is best for them.
The fun city project was never preceded by a town hall meeting or a referendum of public need. Did market women ask for it? Did unemployed graduates? Did small business owners drowning under multiple taxes and poor infrastructure? Governance must begin with listening. Leaders must ask before they act.
The governor cited that over 15,000 people gathered to enjoy the Awka leisure event and that hotels were fully booked. This is commendable, but it is not enough.
The hotels will empty by morning. The applause will fade. The entertainers will go home. But the people will return to a state still haunted by power outages, youth unemployment, weak industries, and a declining agricultural base.
A night of fun cannot replace a lifetime of opportunities. Tourism may play a supporting role in a thriving economy, but it cannot build the foundation of one.
To try to anchor Anambra’s future on fun, when the basics of industrial infrastructure are still lacking, is to gamble with our collective destiny.
Governor Soludo, you were elected with great hope because of your track record in planning and economic reform. You have spoken eloquently of transforming Anambra into a “liveable and prosperous homeland.”
This vision must be rooted in substance, not spectacle. Give us industries. Give us stable power, solid roads, and industrial incentives. Build the infrastructure that will unleash the genius of Anambra people.
Then—and only then—can we talk about building amusement parks. Let leisure follow productivity. Let entertainment trail enterprise. Let fun wait, for now.
What Anambra needs most is not a playground—but a workshop.
