THE EMERGENCE OF SHOPPING MALLS AND THE NEW MARKET CULTURE IN AWKA METROPOLIS

Abstract

Awka has no purposefully built shopping complex that provides a forum for shopping, interaction, leisure and entertainment. Awka, being the capital of Anambra state with booming population, lacks in economic growth, reshaping most urban areas. Given, the city has Roban stores, Radopin and a list of other one stop shops, but no shopping mall with inclusive facilities, hence, the need for a shopping mall. This paper aims to bring to the attention of the Awka urban area communities, the need to join the new pattern of shopping experience developing in other parts of Nigeria and in advanced world, shopping in consolidated and integrated shopping malls where all kinds of activities take place. This
work investigated the spatial integration of the Awka communities markets and the architectural solutions to improving Awka's one stop shopping center's behaviours. The authors were careful with the analytical instrument and tools used. The disciplinary area of focus is market architecture, as such, the instrument of one research strategy: qualitative research method and its tactics were used. The shopping mall in the area will stand out as an edifice that will enhance and improve the Awka communities shopping behaviors and will act as a focal point for the development of new neighborhoods and enhance mutual interaction between the different users. Awka lacked proper and adequate planning and the urban development laws guiding growth and developments were not adhered to resulting in, indiscriminately and randomly building of houses and shelters in both legal and illegal lands. In the process, unemployment and the growth of unskilled workers are growing without
remedies. The introduction of shopping malls in an area combines the convenience of multiple shopping privileges essentially, promotion of a healthy shopping experience along with the social aspects that are imaginable and attracts both young and old. Hard evidence exists, showing that shopping malls transform abandoned and left over lands into expensive and high in demand properties and powerhouses for development as a result, this paper recommends the promotion and introduction of shopping malls in Awka and especially, in areas seen as slums with unstructured buildings and with high unemployment rates.

Keywords:  Awka, growth, architecture, shopping, markets, employment