The Public Presentation of the Informal Market Model Design was held on October 23, 2024, with government and other stakeholders including women drawn from several suburban communities.
The Informal market model design was publicly presented to secure endorsement from government bodies and stakeholders investment to support its implementation as a safe, sustainable solution for street hawkers in Abuja.
The Executive Director of Hipcity Innovation Centre Mr. Bassey Bassey, reflected on the journey from the initial idea of an informal market to support women street hawkers to a two-year process of co-creation with low-income communities, town planners and architectural experts. Dr. Ajadi presented the market design showcasing essential facilities such as market stalls made from indigenous materials powered by renewable energy, storage, restrooms, security post, waste collection post, compost site and market management.
The informal market model design received unanimous endorsement from all government bodies and stakeholders present. Tpl. Modibbo Nasir, a Director from the department of Urban and Regional Planning of the FCDA, welcomed the market design and in his words, it is “an innovative solution”.
Key recommendations included identifying funding sources and exploring potential public-private partnerships (PPP) to finance the market’s construction and operation. Equally important is the need to continue advocacy efforts to sustain public interest and maintain stakeholder engagement throughout the process.
While the public presentation’s outcomes were promising, several crucial next steps are required to ensure the successful implementation of the informal market. The first priority is securing formal government endorsement, followed by acquiring land for the market and obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.
