Enugu, 34 others emerge Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities

APPARENTLY to develop a proactive and integrated plan to address emerging urbanisation challenges, and to respond to them more effectively, the Rockefeller Foundation has picked Enugu and 34 others in its second group of cities selected to join 100 Resilient Cities – cities who have demonstrated a commitment to building their own capacities to navigate the shocks and stresses of an increasingly complex 21st Century.

  Under the 100 Resilient Cities Challenge, 330 exceptional applications were received from 94 countries around the world, submitted in seven languages in 2014. The new cities in Africa are Accra (Ghana), Arusha Tanzania, Enugu (Nigeria), and Kigali (Rwanda).  Selected cities in Europe are Athens (Greece), Barcelona (Spain), Belgrade (Serbia), London (Great Britain), Lisbon (Portugal), Milan (Italy), Paris (France) and Thessaloniki (Greece).  The group began working with first group of 32 cities in December of 2013. 

   Each city was asked to present a clear and compelling description of their major resilience challenges, how they are approaching and planning for resilience to decrease vulnerabilities, and how they plan to partner with us. After exhaustive review of the applications, a panel of esteemed judges including African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka, President and CEO of the Asia Society Josette Sheeran, and former President of Costa Rica José María Figueres, recommended the next set of 35 member cities.

    According to officials, “It wasn’t easy to choose only 35 – we had so many passionate, vibrant entries, hundreds of compelling and inspiring conversations with incredible mayors in applicant cities, and hours of intense internal debate.”

   Among the winners: A historic safe haven for refugees and religious minorities in the Middle East is innovating to address everything from droughts to floods. And one of the biggest industrial and commercial centers in South Asia is grappling with the importance of how to take preparedness beyond disaster response to deal with challenges ranging from solid waste management to Tsunamis.

   Enugu is confronted with chronic energy shortages that drive residential and commercial reliance on petroleum-based generators, the city is working to manage population flows and establish cleaner, more reliable energy. Unreliable power has driven manufacturing away from the city, and new building developments have remained energy intensive, putting greater strain on the system and the environment.

    Transportation infrastructure has also presented challenges, as Enugu’s insufficient road system struggles to meet the city’s needs, and connect bridges are increasingly exposed to scour and erosion. In the case of many of these bridges, a single loss could significantly hinder the local economy. 

        100RC supports the adoption and incorporation of a view of resilience that includes not just the shocks – earthquakes, fires, floods, etc. – but also the stresses that weaken the fabric of a city on a day to day or cyclical basis.  Examples of these stresses include high unemployment; an overtaxed or inefficient public transportation system; endemic violence; or chronic food and water shortages. 

     By addressing both the shocks and the stresses, a city becomes more able to respond to adverse events, and is overall better able to deliver basic functions in both good times and bad, to all populations.   

   Cities in the 100RC network are provided with the resources necessary to develop a roadmap to resilience along four main pathways, for instance, Financial and logistical guidance for establishing an innovative new position in city government, a Chief Resilience Officer, who will lead the city’s resilience effort.

   The cities will also benefit from expert support for development of a robust resilience strategy; Access to solutions, service providers, and partners from the private, public and NGO sectors who can help them develop and implement their resilience strategies; and membership of a global network of member cities who can learn from and help each other.

  100 resilient cities president, Michael Berkowitz, said Enugu secured its place as a Rockefeller Resilient City by regulating urbanisation. He further stated that during 2015 Enugu would receive extensive support to develop a resilience strategy and implementation process that will secure its future. Now with Rockefeller Foundation and NIAF support, Enugu will become a flagship city that ensures urbanisation brings prosperity and resilience.

   The Chief Executive Officer, Private Estates International, Kingsley Eze, described it as “impressive achievement, which goes to reaffirm our confidence in Enugu as a popular choice for urban migration.” The city’s mild climate, good security records, fantastic infrastructure and extensive economic opportunity compel investors to flood the city, resulting in a deluge of construction and development activities. 

  Private Estates International West Africa is the developer of Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, a world-class mixed use development located in the city of Enugu. 

   The city, also known as ‘Enugu Centenary City’, is designed to offer a lifestyle of luxury, serenity and security. Its infrastructure development and other related cost are put at about $300 million and the project is being executed through a public-private partnership between the Enugu State Government and Private Estates International. Significant progress has been made in infrastructure while several off takers have commenced construction of their building units.

    The key features of the city includes cutting edge infrastructural facilities; state of the art electronic security system, water treatment plants, steady electricity supply, street lightings roads, drain and walkway, telecommunication facilities, wireless network, recreation park, hospital, nursery, primary, secondary school, shopping mall, Club House, 18-hole golf course, 9-hole golf course, 5-star hotel, security post and fire station.

   Eze said Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City is the premiere lifestyle city in sub Saharan Africa. Covering about 1,097 hectares, the city is characterized by breathtaking vintage layout and a rare fine blend of functionality that impeccably connects living with sustainable grandeur. Located in independence layout phase 2 along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, which is eight minutes’ drive from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

   The City is bordered by rivers and pockmarked by lakes and other water bodies.  As with all modern cities around the world, Enugu Lifestyle & Golf City has a combination of residential, commercial and industrial developments.

   “The residential development caters for a wide range of housing needs including entry-level, middle-income, executive, and super-exclusive homes.  The community is located around an 18-hole golf course that winds itself around the entire stretch of the development.  An additional, exclusive 9-hole golf course is located within the Presidential Park Estate and opens to only residents of this super-exclusive, ultra-secure community within a very secure Enugu Lifestyle & Golf City”.

   “A 5-star clubhouse and hotel is planned to be the central meeting point for residents in the community.  The hotel, to be managed by an international brand, would be located next to a lake and wrapped around the golf course. It will be built as a resort-getaway for business conferences and families desiring a vacation away from their busy daily lives.” Eze said.

   He added that other amenities like schools, places of worship, sports facilities, and many others will be provided to make this a self-sustaining city.  No other city in Nigeria is conceived in this nature.