Krestal Laurel​

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, Lago
• Elephant House
• Chief Arthur Nzeribe House, Bamigbose, Lagos
• LSDPC (Taxaco) House, Lago
• 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.

Otunba Justus Olugbengba 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.

In the course of his leadership in H.F. Schroder West Africa, his friends cut across professionals who had made a statement in their choiced careers. The likes of Arc. Towry Coker (TCA), Otunba Adekunle Ojora, Chief Dolapo Balogun, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Arch. Anibaba, Engr. Adeola, Prof. Ibidapo Obe (former VC Unilag) and Otunba Jimmy Olaghere. 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.

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 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-coordinated 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.

No doubt Governor Daniel has used his vast experience in the private sector to great advantage in his unique and result oriented state craft which has transformed the entire landscape of the Gateway State and won commendations and laurels from many quarters. Indeed politics has practiced by the man fondly called OGD has become an instrument of Socio economic transformation. Governor Gbenga Daniel’s imprimatur of good governance is clearly visible across the length and breadth of Ogun State.

Governor Daniel is aware that whimsical approach to the serious business of governance will yield little or no dividends for the people. The Governor’s short, medium and long term goals were clearly defined while the routes to their achievements were charted, no wonder the overwhelming success rate of his administration in all sectors.