A fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of
Directors, Nigeria and the Academy of Engineering, OGD, as he is
popularly called in political circles, was a two-term governor of Ogun
State and the Founder/Chairman, Kresta Laurel Limited, Lagos, an
engineering firm specialising in elevators, power systems, overhead
travelling cranes and hoists which has remained a leader in its area of
competence.
Born on 6th of April, 1956, Otunba Daniel,
brilliant, audacious and intuitive as a college boy, attended Baptist
Boys High School, Abeokuta, the School of Basic Studies at The
Polytechnic, Ibadan and later studied Engineering at the University of
Lagos, where he won several scholarships and became acquainted with the
legendary Professor Ayodele Awojobi.
During his National Service
year at the School of Engineering of the Lagos State Polytechnic, he
supervised the construction of the Engineering Complex of the
institution and also conducted the semester examinations for the School
of Engineering without any whiff of leakage or scandal.
That
feat was described by an appreciative management as “quite remarkable in
an environment where examination fraud was quite rampant.”
Daniel was to proceed to earn a Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
from the University of Lagos and subsequently attended the Lagos
Business School for an executive programme.
A distinguished
Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Otunba Daniel cut his
professional teeth with Metal Construction (West Africa) Limited. He
later worked with H. F. Schroeder (West Africa) Limited, Lagos where he
was the General Manager and later, Deputy Managing Director making him
the first African to rise to that position in the history of the
company’s operations.
In 1990, he harnessed his extensive skills
in vertical transportation, power generation and structural engineering
in search of greater challenges and a wider field to plough and so,
established his own company, Kresta Laurel, which in a few years of its
existence had become a household name, blazing the trail in a world
dominated by foreign corporate giants.
Kresta Laurel Limited is
the foremost and the only ISO 9001 certified lift company in Nigeria. It
is also the authorised distributor of KONE; the number one elevator
makers in the world.
Otunba Daniel's resolve to plough back into
the society inspired him to go into public through a non-profit
organisation, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF) which has, over the
years impacted positively on the lives of many through humanitarian an
charitable activities.
To further affect the lives of the people
positively, in 2001, Otunba Gbenga Daniel announced his candidacy for
governor of Ogun State in the 2003 election, seeking the nomination of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His foray into politics
drew extensive media coverage with unprecedented level of popular
support as he was regarded as a symbol of populist ideal to the common
people.
He launched a trail-brazing campaign declaring the
official slogan, "A Contract with the People" with a commitment to
better the lot of the people by awakening the sleeping giant which Ogun
State was by harnessing its human and natural resources.
He won
both the 2003 and 2007 general elections and subsequently lived up to
expectation by bringing positive innovation and productive dynamism into
governance.
In terms of people-oriented programmes, it is
widely acknowledged that Otunba Daniel restored hope, rehabilitated
infrastructure, re-engineered institutions and firmly put in place an
agenda of modernisation in Ogun State.
In addition to
patronising only Indigenous Engineers in the Execution of all his
projects including the 12-Storey OPIC Plaza in Abeokuta, Engr. Daniel,
through personal supervision and institution of compulsory Safe
practices on all sites, ensured that all projects executed under his
watch as the Governor if Ogun State, were delivered safely.
Today, Ogun State has become the investment destination of choice not only in Nigeria but also on the West coast of Africa.
Indeed, his programme on Public Private Partnership attracted several
businesses into the State during his tenure taking Ogun State into the
ranks of the world’s emerging markets.
A partial listing of the
landmark achievements of the Daniel administration include road
rehabilitation, employment generation, ICT revolution, investment
influx, tourism, rural healthcare programme and sports development.
Some of the landmark achievements include but are not limited to:
founding of Nigeria's first University of Education, founding of Four
ICT Polytechnics, the construction of three (3) world-class Stadia and
the upgrading of one stadium to FIFA standard and the Successful hosting
of National Sports Festival & some of the Junior World Games.
Others include the transformation of Ogun state to a virile private
sector driven business haven by encouraging public private partnership,
the construction of over 2000 kilometres of road rehabilitation in four
years, resuscitation and expansion of several agricultural plantations,
creation and Invigoration of the South West Resource Center, and
encouragement of Local & Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through
Partnerships with various countries and Development Partners such as the
Guangdong, China’s Business Community which has agreed to commit One
billion Dollars to its Industrial Park in the state.
The rest
are the initiation of the Olokola NLNG project, the modernization of
Olumo Rock & beautification of Laogo Beach thereby improving on the
tourism potentials the state, the signing into law of the Child Right
Bill as the first Governor in the whole Country to do such,
conceptualisation and setting up of three Free Trade Zones in the State
and the development of the Ogun State Master plan.
After leaving office in 2011, Otunba Daniel continued funding youth development initiatives within Ogun State.
With the core objectives to prepare, produce and support young leaders
to improving their opportunities and competitiveness to impact on the
society significantly, he established the Political Academy (POLA) with
the vision to identify, codify, enhance and propagate principles and
capacities needed for effective value-based socio-political and economic
leadership by offering high quality, accelerated socio-political and
economic education.
In recognition of his contributions to
educational development in the State Otunba Daniel has been honoured
with several academic laurels, including:
•.Honorary Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (2004)
• Doctor of Development Administration (DDA, Honoris Causa) 2004
• Doctor of Agriculture (D. Agric, Honoris Causa) 2005
• Doctor of Science, Engineering (D.Sc, Honoris Causa) 2006
. Doctor of Public Administration (D.Admin. Honoris Causa) 2009.
He has also won several distinguished awards including but not limited to the following:
*One of Nigeria’s 100 most successful Businessmen (National Concord) - 1993.
*MKO Abiola Leadership Prize - 2004
*Africa Leadership Prize for the Best Performed Governor for year 2003 - 2004
*City People Magazine Award for Best Performing Governor for 2003 - 2004
*Man of the Year (by the American Biographical Institute Inc) - 2004
*Best Performing Governor in Primary Education Development - 2005
*Corporate Governance Award of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria – 2005
*Zik Leadership Award, 2006.
*The Raymond Dokpesi: Electronic Media Award 2009.
He also served as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council,
Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State and he is currently the
Chairman, Nigeria/Finland Business Council.
Otunba Daniel is the
Grand Patron of Boys Scout Movement in Nigeria and of the Red Cross and
also Grand Patron of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
Detribalised, sociable, cultured and grassroots politician par
excellence, his diverse achievements and amiable disposition has earned
him honours and recognitions from far and near as well as many
chieftaincy titles including the Otunba Adeoti of Omu-Ijebu, Otunba
Asoludero of Makun, Sagamu, Otunba Obalofin of Ijebuland, Arole of
Remoland, Olu Nla of Egbaland, Oga Nla of Yewaland and Aare Ajibosin of
Owu Kingdom.
He is also the Asiwaju of Remo Christians.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel is married to Yeye Olufunke Daniel and they are blessed with five children.
The Making Of An Engineer
Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel joined the then multinational company
H.F. SCHROEDER West Africa Limited in 1983 as a young Engineer moving
from lecture theatre of Lagos State Polytechnic, where he taught in the
school of Engineering.
Burning with the euphoria of lecturing of
courses, he accepted the offer to manage the post of a Commercial
Manager for the Demag and Carbon brushes department.
Two years
later, being the only qualified engineer in the company and industrious,
he was promoted and seconded to control the affair of the LIFT
Department as Assistant General Manager (1985).
Two years later,
he became the General Manager of H. F. SCHROEDER (1987). Like an
automatic but unwritten rule, Engr. Daniel received another promotion
two years later to the post of Deputy Managing Director, the position he
held until his resignation from the company in 1990.
The
downturn in the economy caused largely by the International sanctions
against Nigeria during the Military rule in the late eighties (80s) led
to the mass exodus of the expatriates in H.F. SCHROEDER and probably a
closure of some departments within the organization.
In between
the years in H.F. SCHREODER as AGM (LIFTS and DEMAG|), he secured many
lift contracts for H.F. SCHROEDER W/A, Prominent among these are:
Mamman Kontagora House, Marina - FMBN First Bank Iganmu, Crusader
Insurance House, Lagos Elephant House, Chief Arthur Nzeribe House,
Bamigbose, Lagos LSDPC (Taxaco) House, Lagos, Law Union & Rock, to
mention just a few.
In H. F. Schroeder, most staff saw him as
kind, selfless and many describe him as a Philanthropist -his passion as
a leader, socialist, ‘welfarist’ and counsellor made him the doyen of
everyone.
His stay in H. F. Schroeder could be viewed as a period of grace to the company and blessing to the workers.
No wonder then that when having seen that the exodus of the expatriates
could affect the encompassing goal of the company; and also the
expatriates believing in his ability to turn around things did not
hesitate to pass on to him the clients being managed by Lifts, DEMAG and
Generator Departments under H.F SCHROEDER.
They believe that he
would not only keep but continue the business relations with those
clients; an idea that gave birth to his Engineering Company, one of the
best in the history of privately run companies in Nigeria.
Kresta Laurel
Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel established his own company in 1990.
This he started off by the belief in himself and the belief in the
ability of Nigerian engineers to hold their own in the horizontal and
vertical moving engineering industry in Nigeria. Kresta Laurel's
certification as the agency for DEMAG and SABIEM products is as a result
of his proficiency in engineering details, belief and ability to
accomplish projects and deliver to specification.
“Although, high
technology is perceived to be the exclusive preserve of the
industrialized world, it should be possible with hard work, discipline,
thoroughness and maintenance of high standards to establish a company
that can hold its own in the international arena with best practices in
all ramifications.
The dream of Kresta Laurel is therefore that
of a company aimed at providing first class products and services in the
arena of technology with technical competence comparable with the best
anywhere in the world”.
OGD: The Businessman
In the course
of his leadership in H.F. Schroder West Africa, his friends cut across
professionals, who had made a statement in their choice careers.
In the Engineering profession, Otunba Daniel excelled and demonstrated
his business acumen by running a successful company that gave job to
many and restored pride in the Nigerian professional.
OGD: The Making of A Governor
It was the same doggedness and penchant that made him a hugely
successful businessman that he brought into politics and governance.
Otunba Daniel's resolve to plough back into the society some of the
abundance it has pleased God to endow him with, inspired him to go into
public life.
His entrée was the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF), a
non-profit organization through which he has in the last few years
impacted positively on the lives of many through humanitarian and
charitable activities.
It was the desire to further affect the
lives of the people positively that made him to offer himself for
elective office, in the position of Governor.
In his
characteristic manner, Otunba Daniel ran a space-age, well-co-ordinated
and intensive campaign, visiting in the process all the 236 wards in the
State the first seeker for office to do so in the history of Ogun
State.
During the grueling campaign, he sold the message of
change and hope. He came across to the electorate as a fresh and dynamic
alternative to the existing, but obviously tired power structure. The
outcome was a resounding victory at the polls on April 19, 2003.
This same diligence, hard work, proficiency and tenacity of purpose,
which made him excel among expatriates in H. F. Schroder was what he
took with him to the state house as governor of Ogun State in 2003 when
he became the democratic governor.
And so on May 29, 2003, Ogun State began a romance with an astute engineer and businessman turned politician.
He, by the will of the people, expressed through their votes, became their Governor for a term of four years.
Through deft social engineering, judicious use of resources and an
uncommon desire to effect a positive change in the social economic
landscape, Justus Olugbenga Daniel won the hearts of the people of Ogun
State. And when it was time again for them to elect a new governor in
April 2007, they overwhelmingly passed a vote of confidence on Gbenga
Daniel asking him to continue in office for another four years.
The eight years of Otunba Gbenga Daniel have become reference points for
others as they keep referring to the years as a period, when the state
was catapulted into real development that is still manifesting till
date.
