Headline:ACTDA Targets Smarter Urban Growth as Onuko Launches Reform-Driven “ACTDA 2.0”

By Ukpa Ewa

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Dr. Ossy Onuko, has unveiled a reform-focused agenda aimed at strengthening urban planning, regulatory enforcement and institutional efficiency in Awka, declaring that the agency is entering a new operational phase tagged “ACTDA 2.0.”

Speaking during a one-day strategic retreat for staff and stakeholders in Awka, Dr. Onuko said the next phase of the agency’s operations would prioritize professionalism, excellence and improved service delivery as ACTDA intensifies efforts to accelerate the transformation of the Anambra capital territory.

The retreat, themed “Planning, Development and Regulatory Compliance,” brought together ACTDA personnel, development control officers, media practitioners and experts in urban development, governance and public communication.

Dr. Onuko said the retreat was designed to reposition the workforce for the challenges of modern city management, particularly as the agency embarks on structural reforms following his reappointment for a second four-year tenure.

According to him, the renewed mandate goes beyond sustaining previous achievements and is instead focused on deepening development initiatives, strengthening institutional capacity and delivering a more organized and livable capital city for residents of Anambra State.

“Our responsibility is to build on existing successes while pursuing higher standards in urban development and service delivery,” he said, urging staff to embrace discipline, innovation and teamwork.

Delivering the keynote address, former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Olutoyin Ayinde, stressed the critical role of planning and regulatory compliance in building sustainable cities.

Ayinde warned that weak development control and poor urban planning often result in building collapse, traffic congestion, environmental degradation and unsafe living conditions. He called for strict enforcement of planning regulations and adherence to global best practices in physical development.

Also speaking, ACTDA Legal Adviser, Barrister Lawrence Nwangwu, urged staff to familiarize themselves with the legal framework guiding development activities within the capital territory, including the Awka Capital Territory Development Law 2020 and related policy guidelines.

In a presentation titled “Organizational Leadership: Keys Needed to Effectively Execute a Vision,” leadership facilitator Peter Nwokoye emphasized the importance of purpose-driven leadership, teamwork and continuous professional development in achieving institutional goals.

He cited Singapore’s development model as an example of how strategic leadership and long-term planning can drive national transformation.

Public relations and branding expert, Mazi Ejimofor Opara PhD, also challenged the agency to strengthen public communication and stakeholder engagement to build confidence in its activities and urban renewal initiatives.

Speaking on “Building the Capital’s Voice: Effective Public Communication and Media Management for a New Awka,” Opara said consistent communication of development efforts would help improve public trust and participation in government initiatives.

The retreat further featured technical presentations by officials of Acciona Engineering and the Sustainable Development Unit, a Spanish construction firm involved in the African Cities Programme.

The session, facilitated by Acciona Urban Development and Coordinating City Expert, Mohammed Kabiru Yari, focused on urban livability studies, sustainability strategies, infrastructure planning and the implementation of Awka’s development work plan aimed at positioning the city as a modern and globally competitive capital.