OTUNBA GBENGA DANIEL: THE MARCHING CONQUEROR By: Adegbenro Adebanjo, Ajibola Osunjimi

Justus Olugbenga Daniel has enjoyed the best of two worlds. He started off as a consummate businessman conquering the corporate world and through this became a major contributor to technological and economic development of the country. He thereafter veered to the slippery world of politics. He also made his mark becoming in the process two term governor of Ogun state between 2003 and 2011. However, he did not get to the pinnacle of statecraft by sudden flight. While his foray into politics may have been accidental, his professional foray into the mechanical lift industry and the business world where he remains a colossus was methodical and concretized through dedication, professionalism, versatility and uncommon acumen.

Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel joined the then multinational company H.F SCHROEDER West Africa Limited in 1983 as a young Engineer moving from the lecture theater of Lagos State Polytechnic where he taught in the School of Engineering to the place where he honed his professional skills and versatile business acumen. In the beginning at the company, 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 with demonstrable competence and industry, he was promoted and seconded to control the affairs of the LIFT Department as Assistant General Manager (1985). Two years later, he became the General Manager of H.F SCHROEDER in (1987). Like an automatic but unwritten rule, Engineer 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 imprimatur of his contributions to the development of the H.F SCHROEDER was legendary. As Acting General Manager (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, Bamgbose, Lagos.

- LSDPC (Texaco) House, Lagos

- Law Union & Rock, to mention just a few.

At H.F SCHROEDER, most staff members saw him as kind, selfless and many described him as a philanthropist as he touched the lives of many beyond the call of duty ensuring that he cater for the welfare and wellbeing of all and sundry. He was a rare gem that people could take problems and challenges to and came back with a smile. The making of leader imbued with vision and milk of human kindness started off in this innocuous manner. The Gateway Front Foundation, GFF which he founded later to give succor to the less privileged in the society further deepened his passion to effect positive changes in the Nigerian society. GFF through which he bonded with the people provided the platform that eventually catapulted him to the highest political office in the land of his birth


The downturn in the economy caused largely by international sanctions against Nigeria, during 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.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel's stay in H.F SCHROEDER could be viewed as a period of grace to the company and blessing to the workers. No wonder the expatriates believed that Otunba Gbenga Daniel had great ability to turn things around, and that propelled them to pass on to him the clients being managed in the 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 company Krestal Laurel Limited, one of the best in the history of privately run companies in Nigeria.

Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel established his own company in 1990. This he started 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. Krestal Laurel's certification as the agency for DEMAG and SABIEM products is a result of his proficiency in engineering details, versatility, and ability to accomplish projects and deliver to specification.

In the course of his leadership in H.F SCHROEDER West Africa, his friends cut across professionals who had made a statement in their chosen 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 to mention a few. In the Engineering profession Otunba Daniel excelled and demonstrated his business acumen by running a successful company that provided job opportunities and professional and career fulfillment  for  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 Gbenga Daniel's resolve to plough back into the society some abundance bestowed unto him by God, inspired him to go into public life. His entreè was the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF), a non- profit organization through which he has continued to  impact 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.

The philanthropic nature of Daniel goes beyond what he will get in return, no wonder, Nine  years after he had left office as the Governor, he compassionately invested millions of naira on Relief materials which was distributed throughout the 3 Senatorial district by Gateway Front Foundation as palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown occasioned by the Corona Virus pandemic .

The Concord newspaper in 1992, referred to him  the Marching Conqueror, an apt description of his doggedness , achievements and giant strides  in his chosen career. There is no controversy about the positive leadership style, competence, business sagacity and political dexterity of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.Otunba Daniel is one of the few leaders in Nigeria with meaningful and profitable engagements before joining politics, and the business is still flourishing to date.