President of the Odo-Adde Community Development Initiative (OACDI), Commander Laurence Fabiyi, has called on sons and daughters of the community to close ranks, reclaim their cultural identity and work collectively towards sustainable development.
Fabiyi made the call at the inaugural Odo-Adde Day 2026 Summit in Abuja, where he expressed concern over what he described as growing divisions and declining attachment to the community’s history and heritage.
The summit, organised under the theme, “Odo’Adde: Our Root, Strength and Inspiration,” brought together indigenes, elders and other stakeholders to discuss the history, identity and development of the community.
Fabiyi said Odo-Adde was more than a geographical location, describing it as a heritage, identity and destiny that must be preserved and transmitted to future generations.
According to him, the community is endowed with significant human and natural resources, as well as a rich history of contributions to society, but greater unity was needed to translate these assets into meaningful development.
He said divisions within the community had weakened its collective voice and limited the recognition and influence it deserved, urging indigenes to put aside individual interests and build a stronger communal structure.
Fabiyi said OACDI was working to provide a platform for the nine clans of Odo-Adde to collaborate on issues affecting the community and strengthen their capacity to pursue common interests.
He stated that the organisation had secured the services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to engage Dangote Industries Limited on matters concerning the community and its clans.
The OACDI President also announced that the initiative had been registered as a government-recognised trustee and umbrella body for coordinating community affairs.
He said funds had been raised for a comprehensive survey of the community’s ancestral land, while an Access Bank account had been established to facilitate the administration of community funds.
Fabiyi added that OACDI had introduced voluntary contributions to support members during bereavement and other difficult circumstances, describing the initiative as part of efforts to strengthen communal bonds.
Also speaking, Secretary of the OACDI Board of Trustees, Araba Rufus Ayenigba, described the summit as a cultural renaissance initiative aimed at reviving Odo-Adde’s identity and increasing awareness of its contributions and potential.
Ayenigba said the community possessed considerable human and natural resources, including marble deposits, while its sons and daughters had made notable contributions in the judiciary, military, public service and other fields.
He said the cultural initiative would promote unity, preserve the community’s heritage and create a stronger platform for shared prosperity and development partnerships.
Chairman of the Alakose Round Table, Olukayode Ambolu, and guest speaker, Chief Olodoa of Ikirianide, Dr. Ebitoye Bamisaye, also urged Odo-Adde indigenes to preserve their history and cultural traditions, particularly the heritage associated with Alakosẹ.
The organisers expressed hope that the inaugural summit would grow into a wider cultural gathering, while encouraging greater participation by younger generations in preserving and promoting the identity of Odo-Adde.
