Abuja hides its exuberance below a veneer of staid civil servants and stressed business executives. It is a city of wide leafy avenues, sprawling apartments and tall office towers.

Abuja is the ambitious and functional capital of the sleeping giant at the heart of Africa.It is an always changing energetic city that offers constant change. Visitors can be guaranteed of a new experience every time you visit.

Abuja is less frenetic and more welcoming than the country’s economic capital Lagos. (Image: e.r.w.i.n., CC BY-NC 2.0, via Flickr)

Aso Rock dominates the skyline of Abuja. (Image: Jeff Attaway, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)

Abuja’s Wuse Market, offers everything from fresh food to clothes, music, and electronics. And as markets go, not expensive. (Image: Jeff Attaway, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)

Abuja’s Wuse Market is where all of Nigeria’s diversity is on show. (Image: Jeff Attaway, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)

The Grand Mosque in Abuja is a meant as a unifying gift from Nigeria’s Muslim population to their fellow citizens. (Image: Jeff Attaway, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)

The entrance to the Grand Mosque, the mosque is open to the public when not being used for religious ceremonies. (Image: Mark Fischer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr)

Abuja embraces and celebrates it multitude of religions, the Ecumenical Centre of Abuja. (Image: neajjean, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)

The National Church in Abuja. (Image: pjotter05, CC BY-NC 2.0, via Flickr)

Nollywood in action, filming at Usman Dam on the outskirts of Abuja. (Image: Jeremy Weate, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)

The annual Abuja Carnival celebrates all of Nigeria’s many cultures. (Jeremy Weate, BY-NC 2.0, via Flickr)

Women of Iso State await there opportunity to march during the Abuja Carnival. (Image: Jeremy Weate, BY-NC 2.0, via Flickr)

The home of Rubens, a man who has made his home in Abuja after planting thousands of trees around Africa. (Image: Jeremy Weate, BY-NC 2.0, via Flickr)

The man made Usman Dam is a haven for the citizens of Abuja. (Image: Jeremy Weate, BY-NC 2.0, via Flickr)