Onitsha, the largest commercial and trading centre in South-East Nigeria, is set to witness increased tempo of activities as the first shopping mall in the area opens for business in the first quarter of 2016.
Onitsha Mall, a joint venture project by African Capital Alliance and the Anambra State Government, is located off Awka Road in the GRA part of the city. The mall has over 60 shops and is easily accessible from all parts of Onitsha and surrounding towns such as Obosi, Oba, Ogbaru, Nsugbe, Nkwelle, Nkpor, Ogidi and Aguleri, to name a few.
Ngonyama Okpanum Associates “NOA”, an international architectural firm with offices in Abuja, Cape Town and Saigon Vietnam are the designers of the Mall. The debt funding for the project was provided by Diamond Bank.
The facility, the first of its kind in Anambra State, is at about 95% completion and will open for business in February 2016. Shoprite and a number of big retailers offering fashion accessories, sports equipment, banking services, telecom and ICT software and hardware services have secured space in the mall. These retailers are busy fitting out their shops in preparation for the February 2016 opening.
The developers of the project, African Capital Alliance (ACA) said the new mall facility will signal a new dawn in the life of the city that has grappled with a dearth of quality recreational and modern lifestyle-enhancing amenities.
ACA’s real estate fund manager, Obiora Nwogugu, stated: “the mall will provide ample social, life-style and entertainment facilities for all categories of people. It boasts of adequate security and parking space, thereby making it an ideal place to shop, entertain and meet up with friends and family. We have also placed a premium on the use of modern equipment and methods to ensure the safety of our shoppers”.