By JKNewsMedia
COMMITMENT TO community transformation came into focus on Friday, 5 September 2025, when the Phenomenal Strides Foundation (PSF) led by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ibiba Odili, paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, Oba Prof. Saka Adelola Matemilola, Otileta VII, Olowu of Owu Kingdom.
Odili explained that the purpose of the visit, the first since the foundation was established, was to formally notify His Majesty of the organisation’s work and to seek his fatherly counsel, royal blessings and guidance as it advances its mission.
She described the monarch as a foremost development practitioner whose commitment to community advancement is demonstrated through multiple service platforms, including the Solace Foundation on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Advocacy, of which she is also a founding member.
Speaking further, Odili outlined the foundation’s vision to strengthen families, promote community cohesion, foster harmony, and empower youth, women and children as critical pillars of development.
She highlighted the urgent need for greater collaboration in addressing risky behaviours that complicate substance abuse and related challenges, pledging that PSF would work closely with His Majesty on initiatives to enhance various aspects of community development.
In his response, Oba Prof. Matemilola congratulated Odili on her recent retirement from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), commending her long-standing passion for social impact.
He noted that retirement should be embraced as “not a sentence to death, but an opportunity to sharpen one’s mental acuity and to build a lasting legacy of impact for humanity.”
The monarch observed that her dedication to development had been evident long before she left public service, and he prayed for divine support to enable her to surpass expectations in her new role.
His Majesty assured the delegation of his readiness to collaborate with the foundation, particularly in the area of women’s empowerment, which he described as one of his signature development priorities.
He emphasised the importance of faith in service, remarking that “Religion is not only about communicating with God, but also about helping humanity—one person at a time – just as PSF has begun.”
The exchange concluded with a mutual pledge to deepen partnership in projects that would strengthen families, empower vulnerable groups and advance holistic community development.
Both parties expressed confidence that sustained collaboration would help expand opportunities for women and young people while addressing the social challenges threatening community harmony.
