Anambra State · Nigeria
Awka travel guide
Awka is a city in Anambra State, Nigeria, home to about 430,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- ABB46 km · Asaba International Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Awka
Awka (Igbo: Ọka) is the capital city of Anambra State, Nigeria. The city was declared capital on 21 August 1991, on the creation of a new Anambra state and Enugu state by bifurcation of the old Anambra State.
Awka is one of the oldest settlements in Igboland, established at the centre of the Nri civilisation, which produced the earliest documented bronze works in Sub-Saharan Africa, around 800 AD, and was the cradle of Igbo civilisation. The city was declared capital of Anambra State in 1991 when the state was created. It hosts two primary universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (owned by the Federal government) and Paul University (run by the Anglican church). The town lies at about 40 km east of the Niger from Onitsha and shares boundaries with Nibo, Amawbia, Isiagu, Okpuno and Amansea.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Awka
See
- Ogbunike caves
- Professor Kenneth Dike State Central E-Library
Do
The people of Awka perform many festivals annually. The period of each festival is determined by counting the appearance of the moon so that each native month has its own festivals. Festivals in Awka involve diverse cultural activities which portray the glamour of the city’s indigenous way of life. These festivals are a unifying force which binds the people of Awka together. These festivals are occasions for merriment and seasoned with a purpose attached to different aspects of a city’s life. It is usually a period of rest from strenuous daily activities, giving people quality leisure time to consume all the entertaining cultural aesthetics of the event.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Awka
Awka has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 309 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Awka: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Asaba International Airport (ABB), about 46 km from the city centre in a straight line; Akanu Ibiam International Airport (ENU, 60 km) and Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW, 90 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Visitors wishing to access Awka by air have to make use of the nearest airport to Awka which is Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport situated at Umueri in Ayamelu Local Government area of Anambra State (IATA: ABB, ICAO: DNAS). The airport handles domestic services connecting the city to Nigeria's major metropolitan centres. The distance from Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport to Awka is 28.5 km which is 36 minutes by road.
Getting around
Like most cities in Nigeria, transportation in Awka is based primarily on motorcycle, tricycle, bus, taxis or private car.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ABB · Asaba International Airport
ENU · Akanu Ibiam International Airport
QOW · Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Awka
Eat
There are one stop restaurants at Awka available for visitors and travellers to stop by and have a sumptuous meal.
Drink
There are nice joints and bars in Awka where visitors can go and enjoy themselves.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Awka: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Awka?
Awka has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 309 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Awka?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Asaba International Airport (ABB), about 46 km from the city centre in a straight line; Akanu Ibiam International Airport (ENU, 60 km) and Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW, 90 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Awka?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Awka
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.