Visitors Praise Addis Ababa’s Rapid Modernization, City Upgrades

Addis Ababa, August 31, 2026 (ENA) — African visitors expressed admiration for the city’s infrastructure, modern urban landscape, and warm hospitality, stating their experience far exceeded expectations.

The visitors were in the Ethiopian capital from August 25 to 28 for the Continental Youth Capacity Building Programme on African Union Shared Values Instruments.

For many, the event offered a firsthand opportunity to experience Ethiopia and contrast popular outside perceptions with the reality on the ground.

Nigerian participant Ekejiuba Daberechi, who visited Addis Ababa for the first time, said he was particularly impressed by the hospitality and warmth of the people.

“I am interested in the warmth from the people. Very amazing people, and I am so happy to connect with them,” he said.

He also praised the city’s infrastructure, particularly what he observed while traveling from Bole International Airport.

“Some of the infrastructure on our way here from the airport, I was really impressed. Addis Ababa is doing pretty well, and I’m really happy,” Ekejiuba said.

He said he had limited expectations before arriving in Ethiopia because it was his first visit to East Africa.

“As this is my first time in East Africa as a subregion, I didn’t have any expectations, but I was looking forward to really witnessing Addis Ababa in its full colors, and I was really impressed with what I observed,” he said.

Ekejiuba said the city could serve as an example of Africa’s ongoing urban development and provide an opportunity for young Africans to exchange experiences and contribute to the continent’s growth.

“We are able to see for ourselves how other parts of the continent are growing, and we can also see how we can contribute to that growth as well, and we can all work together as a unit to advance the continent as a whole,” he said.

Cameroonian Tourists Engelbert Suh, also visiting Addis Ababa for the first time, said the city’s infrastructure had challenged some of the perceptions about Ethiopia he had encountered while growing up.

He said his previous understanding of Ethiopia had been shaped by information portraying the country primarily through poverty and food insecurity. However, his experience in Addis Ababa presented a different picture.

He said the city’s roads, buildings and overall urban environment particularly caught his attention.

“When I saw the reality about Ethiopia, I would wish to go back and encourage more people to come to the country, especially Addis Ababa. Because it’s a good place, and it’s a nice place,” Suh said.

The visitors’ impressions come as Addis Ababa undergoes major changes under the city’s Corridor Development Initiative.

Launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2024, the initiative is a large-scale urban renewal programme aimed at transforming roads, transportation systems, public spaces and other urban infrastructure across the capital.

The development has introduced newly asphalted roads, pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, running tracks and facilities designed to improve movement and accessibility across the city.

The initiative has also incorporated modern underground pedestrian crossings, bus and taxi terminals, recreational facilities, children’s playgrounds, public plazas, green spaces and parks.

Improved drainage infrastructure has also been incorporated into the projects to strengthen flood management and improve the city’s resilience during heavy rainfall.

The ongoing transformation has contributed to a more vibrant urban environment, while providing visitors with a different perspective on Addis Ababa and Ethiopia.

For the young African participants, the experience offered more than an opportunity to see the capital. It also provided a chance to challenge perceptions, discover common experiences and consider how African countries can learn from one another as they pursue urban development and continental integration.