Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, has announced the start of a new phase in the plan to turn Awka into a modern and investment-friendly capital city.
In a post on his X page, he said that the arrival of a Spanish consulting team under the African Cities Programme, supported by the African Development Bank, marks the beginning of key planning work for the city’s transformation.
He noted that the move is part of efforts to improve Awka’s structure. The goal is to make it more organised, sustainable, and attractive for investment.
The development marks the start of technical planning activities. It is expected to guide future urban upgrades in the state capital. Investment bodies such as the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) are tasked with positioning the state to attract premium investments, including its state capital.
Anambra’s Bold Plan to Attract New Investments
The Soludo administration has taken bold steps to pursue new investment opportunities and open new revenue channels. The Solution Fun City is an attempt to launch a leisure industry in the state. This is a bold move and a clean break for a state that is quite well-known for its commercial activities.
There is also an attempt to formalise an established retail sector with the introduction of the Ikenga Mall in Awka. The Ikenga Mall is a product of a Private-public partnership between Sundry Limited and the Anambra State Government.
The retail space already hosts major brands. Brands like Marketsquare, a Nigerian retail brand by Sundry Limited, Domino’s Food Chain, and Black and White Beauty Saloon. Awka is largely a public-sector-driven region, with pockets of private establishments targeting the robust student demographic.
It is roughly an hour from Onitsha, making it a viable business location for large-scale manufacturers. It is ideal for Businesses looking to serve the entire state and avoid the rowdiness and high-paced system in Onitsha.
