New Momentum for ACTDA as Onuko Declares Shift to Greater Heights

MD ACTDA Dr. Ossy Onuko

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Dr. Ossy Onuko, has stated that the agency is repositioning itself for greater achievements in the discharge of its core mandate.
Dr. Onuko made the disclosure on Wednesday during ACTDA’s one-day staff retreat titled “Planning, Development and Regulatory Compliance,” held at Hilton Leisure Hotel, A1wka, the Anambra State capital.
According to him, the retreat was organised to strengthen institutional capacity among staff in the areas of planning, development, and regulatory compliance.
He stated that the programme was designed to equip staff with the knowledge, competence, and leadership skills required for efficient service delivery and effective execution of the agency’s responsibilities within the Awka Capital Territory.
“This programme is intended to equip staff with the knowledge and leadership skills necessary for efficient service delivery and effective implementation of the agency’s mandate,” he said.
Dr. Onuko urged staff members to remain open-minded and willing to learn, stressing that ACTDA was entering a new phase of transformation.
“I have also come to learn because what we are building now is a new ACTDA. We are changing gears; this is ACTDA 2.0,” he stated.
He noted that the essence of the retreat was for every participant to leave better informed, better equipped, and more prepared for the challenges ahead.
“Pay attention because we are passing through a new phase in this agency. We considered it necessary to prepare and equip ourselves for the challenges ahead. The core objective of this training is to position us to achieve more for the betterment of the agency.
“We are here to understand what is expected of us as members of a solution-driven team. Though we have been reappointed, it is not just to continue with previous achievements, but to improve on past records,” he added.
The ACTDA boss described the retreat as part of a broader institutional reform aimed at improving performance, professionalism, and operational efficiency within the agency.
“We are here to learn from people who know more than we do. Put life and vigour into your work. Ideally, this should have been a one-week programme, but we compressed it into one day.
“Let us fully understand the task before us so we can achieve exponential improvement in our performance over the next four years,” he said.
Former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, delivered the keynote address at the retreat.
Ayinde, who is also a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and Second Deputy President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, spoke extensively on sustainable urban planning and development management.
He emphasised strict adherence to planning regulations and global best practices, while stressing the importance of human-centred planning, environmental sustainability, and inclusive stakeholder participation in urban planning processes, including actors in the informal sector.
Other speakers at the retreat included the Chief Executive Officer of Petros Global Enterprises Ltd., Mr. Peter Nwokoye, who presented a paper titled “Organisational Leadership: Keys Needed to Effectively Execute a Vision.”
Nwokoye commended the ongoing infrastructural development in Awka, particularly road construction projects, noting that ACTDA’s leadership appeared committed, proactive, and result-oriented.
He urged the agency to sustain the momentum and strategically scale up its interventions for greater impact.
Drawing lessons from Singapore’s post-independence transformation in 1965, Nwokoye explained how visionary leadership and disciplined governance turned the country into a global economic powerhouse.
He identified governance, trade and finance, education, technology, and industrial development as the major drivers of Singapore’s success, describing the country as a model for institutional reform and sustainable development.
According to him, Awka had witnessed significant improvement over the past four years.
“The works of the Managing Director of ACTDA speak for themselves. He has shown deep commitment and passion for his responsibilities,” he said.
He also commended the ACTDA team for its support and contributions over the last four years, noting that Awka had experienced remarkable transformation and development, although much still needed to be done.
“We are here to do more for Awka Capital. We have done well in the last four years, but for us to move to the next level, we need a shift in mindset,” he added.
Urban development and city coordination expert, Kabiu Mohammad, disclosed that Awka had been selected to benefit from the African Cities Programme of the African Development Bank, an initiative aimed at transforming urban infrastructure and city development across Africa.
He explained that the selection positioned Awka for major infrastructural advancement, adding that a technical committee had already been established to oversee city profiling, stakeholder engagement, data collection, and the preparation of an actionable development framework.
According to him, for Awka to achieve its development aspirations, it must remain competitive, as cities across the world are constantly striving to attract investment and population growth through quality infrastructure and effective governance.
He noted that the world’s leading cities are distinguished by world-class infrastructure, strong institutions, and effective security systems, stressing that achieving such standards would require collective commitment and collaboration from all stakeholders.
Public relations and brand development specialist, Dr. Ejimofor Opara, who spoke on “Effective Public Engagement and Media Management,” emphasised the need for transparent communication and strategic stakeholder engagement in public administration.
“ACTDA must own its communication channels. If you do not tell your story, others will tell it for you, often negatively. Communication is central to effective governance and public trust,” Opara stated.
The retreat forms part of ACTDA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen professionalism, improve regulatory efficiency, and enhance strategic coordination among staff in line with global best practices in urban development administration.