MEET HIS EXCELLENCY -Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the Executive Governor of Ogun State

Born on the 6th April, 1956 into the family of Rt. Rev. Adebola Daniel of Makun Sagamu and Madam Olaitan Daniel, of Omu Ijebu, Ogun State; an acknowledged lover of humanity , a philanthropist of note, an accomplished leader of thought and a consummate visionary and statesman, Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel is the Governor of Ogun State.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s skills as a consumable manager and strategist manifested as early as 1969 while at the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta that he attended from 1969 to 1973. While there, he represented the school in a lot of extra curricular activities such as debates and quiz competitions, a factor which made him exceptionally popular among his contemporaries and which also stimulated his intellectual prowess.Having graduated from the Baptist Boys High School in flying colours, he proceeded first to the School of Basic Studies at The Polytechnic, Ibadan for his Advanced Level (A’ Level) and thereafter moved to the School of Engineering of the University of Lagos. In his early years as an undergraduate, he won several scholarships and also became well acquainted with the legendary, Prof. Ayodele Awojobi as one of the best students of the late prodigy.
It was whilst still an undergraduate, that he became indoctrinated into the select Committee of friends of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, indeed, as the youngest member of that select Committee.
As a Youth Corps member with the School of Engineering, Lagos State Polytechnic, he demonstrated remarkable skills as an astute administrator and professional. Not only did he supervise the construction of the department’s complex, Otunba Gbenga Daniel single handedly conducted the semester examinations for the School of Engineering, without any whiff of leakage or scandal. This feat was described by an appreciable management as “quite remarkable in an environment where examination fraud was quite rampant”. It is to his credit that in the years following this monumental accomplishment, the system he put in place provided the template for succeeding examinations. His urge for greater self development inspired him to enroll at the University of Lagos for a post graduate degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from 1980 to 1981.
A distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Otunba Daniel cut his professional teeth with Metal Construction (W.A) Limited, Apapa, Lagos where he was the Assistant Commercial Manager. He moved to H.F. Schroeder (W.A.) Limited, Lagos where he was the Assistant General Manager and later the Deputy Managing Director. His sterling management skills put the company on the cutting edge of the highly competitive world of corporate engineering, endearing him in the process, to workers and shareholders alike. It is worthy of note that Otunba Daniel was the first black man to rise to that position in the thirty-year history of the company’s operations on the continent of Africa.
However, Otunba Daniel was not done yet. A firm believer in the precept “Who Dares, Wins” he harnessed, in 1990, his extensive skills in vertical transportation engineering, power generation and general engineering in search of greater challenges and a wider field to plough – Kresta Laurel was born! Within three years of its existence, Kresta Laurel became a household name, blazing the trail in a world dominated by foreign corporate giants. T can be said that today, in one out of every three offices in Nigeria, there is Kresta Laurel device, elevating people to greater heights, generating light where public utilities fail, and providing leverage towards vantage positions.His resolve to plough back into the society of the abundance it has pleased God to endow him with, inspired him to float a non-profit, non-governmental organization known as Gateway Front Foundation (GFF). The Foundation has in the last few years impacted positively, the lives of the people of Ogun State in particular. Virtually all strata of the society in the state have benefited in one form or another from the activities of the GFF. It was the in-born desire that Olugbenga Justus Daniel to further affect the lives of the people positively that made him to offer himself to serve them in the unfolding political sphere. He therefore sought the mandate of the people of Ogun State. The response during the April 2003 election was overwhelming. The rest is now history. Governor Gbenga Daniel has expectedly lived up to expectations by bringing positive innovations and productive dynamism into governance to the delight and admiration of all and sundry in and outside the state. In terms of people-oriented programmes, it is widely acknowledged that Otunba Gbenga Daniel is a trail-blazer, having rehabilitated many roads across the length and breadth of the state through cost-effective machinery of the state’s Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA). Within a remarkable span of 10 months, the Gateway State has become a shining model of good governance and development.
An inspiring leader with a firm commitment to excellence, Governor Daniel, has since assumption of office in May 2003, provided employment to over five thousand hitherto jobless youths among them, the so called “Area Boys” through the Ogun State Employment Generation Programme (OGEGEP). Little wonder that in 2004, he clinched two enviable awards. First was the MKO Abiola prize for Political Leadership and second, the Prize for the Best Performing Governor in Nigeria for the Year 2003.
“Ogidi Omo” as he is fondly called could not have achieved less in the area of security of lives and property because of the confidence reposed in him by the people who have so unwaveringly entrusted their future in his hands. Little wonder therefore that for many, he symbolizes those ideals that were held dearly by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.A man of many parts, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is married to Yeye Olufunke Daniel and the marriage is blessed with children. His diverse achievements and humble disposition has earned him honour and over fifty traditional titles. Prominent among them are:
• Otunba Adeoti of Omu-Ijebu 1993
• Fesojoye of Ile-Ife 1993
• Otunba Rojogbuwa of Sagamu 1999
• Aare Asoludero of Makun, Sagamu 2002
• Okoesisi of Obinugwu (Imo State) 2003
• Bobagunwa of Gbagura, Abeokuta 2004
• Bashorun of Epeland 2004
• Gbobaniyi of Oke-Ona Egba 2004

Governor Gbenga Daniel also belongs to a number of Social Clubs. They include:
Ikoyi club
Egbe Bobakeye of Ijebuland
Island Club and
Lagos Country Club
He is also Grand Patron of the Scout Movement in Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and several other national and international organization