AfDB Urban Programme: ACTDA Boss Onuko Visits ACCIONA in Madrid for Awka City Transformation

The lead consultant to the African Development Bank (AfDB) Cities Programme, ACCIONA Group, has hosted the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Dr. Ossy Onuko, in Madrid, Spain.

The visit forms part of the ongoing City Profiling and Workplan Development for Awka under the African Development Bank’s Urban and Municipal Fund Programme, an initiative focused on strengthening the capacity of cities to plan, finance, and implement sustainable and inclusive urban development programmes.

The ongoing engagement is a multi-sectoral working visit designed to provide the ACTDA Managing Director with first-hand exposure to the complexities, innovations, technologies, and best practices shaping modern urban planning, infrastructure delivery, and sustainable city development across leading global urban environments.

Key areas of focus during the engagement include water management; integrated waste management; waste-to-resource initiatives and renewable waste processes; mass housing development; urban infrastructure, including roads and bridges; innovation and digital transformation; tourism and destination development; as well as the socio-cultural dynamics that influence the growth, identity, and functionality of cities, among other critical components of sustainable urban development.

Particular attention is being given to practical and scalable approaches to urban management that can enhance the efficiency of public infrastructure, improve environmental sustainability, promote economic productivity, and strengthen the overall quality of life for residents.

Dr. Onuko was received at the ACCIONA Campus in Madrid by the Managing Director of ACCIONA Engineering, David Madrigal, alongside his team of urban development experts.

The engagement featured extensive discussions on practical strategies and innovative approaches to building resilient, sustainable, inclusive, efficient, and future-ready cities.

The discussions also provide an opportunity for knowledge exchange and institutional learning, enabling Awka to draw from ACCIONA’s international experience in urban development, engineering, infrastructure, environmental management, and sustainable city solutions.

Such exposure is particularly relevant as Awka advances its long-term vision of becoming a well-planned, economically vibrant, environmentally sustainable, technologically enabled, and globally competitive capital city.

The engagement further underscores the importance of strategic partnerships and global knowledge networks in supporting Awka’s transformation into a modern capital territory capable of responding effectively to emerging urban challenges while maximising opportunities for sustainable growth.

As the City Profiling and Workplan Development process progresses, the insights and experiences gained from the engagement are expected to contribute to the development of a robust strategic framework for Awka’s sustainable urban growth and transformation.

The initiative is also aligned with the broader development vision of the Government of Anambra State under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, and its agenda of building a “Liveable and Prosperous Homeland for Ndi Anambra.”