By Chuka Nnabuife
“I rejoiced when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord,” enthused King David in Psalm 122:1.
Like the Psalmist, I was in high spirits when I learnt of the advancement in age of my inspirational and charismatic mentor. I rejoiced on hearing of the 70th birthday of my former boss, Olugbenga Justus Daniel, more popularly known as Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD).
A Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Ogun East Senatorial District, and a former Governor of Ogun State, he is far more than his public offices suggest. He is a trailblazer, a highly successful entrepreneur, and a serial pacesetter across multiple industries. Above all, he is a warm-hearted builder of men and wealth. His attainment of 70 is therefore not merely an addition of years, but a milestone worthy of celebration and gratitude—by his family, associates, and the many whose lives he has touched.
It is with profound delight that I join my former colleagues at the defunct Nigerian Compass and Western Publishing Company—where I served as Saturday Editor, Weekend Editor, and Managing Editor—in paying tribute to a man who did more than lead. He uplifted, inspired, and dignified our calling as media professionals, despite his own training being in engineering. He gave us a sense of worth and, serendipitously, elevated the status of mainstream journalism in Nigeria, compelling competing media owners to improve both standards and welfare. Without exaggeration, he deserves honourable mention in the history of Nigerian media.
For many of us who passed through his stewardship, OGD was a motivator, mentor, and visionary. He was not merely a promoter of our mission—he was a deliberate builder of people and institutions. Under his guidance, our professional worth was recognised and elevated, our voices amplified even while the organisation was still nascent, and our sense of purpose deepened.
I was a founding staff member of The Nigerian Compass in February 2008 and wrote the lead report of the newspaper, which, due to public interest, ran for 13 consecutive days. It was therefore no surprise when that exclusive report evolved, a decade after the newspaper ceased publication, into a significant part of a well-reviewed bestseller. But that is a story for another day.
The motivation—and at times brief, insightful guidance—of our hands-on promoter, OGD, enabled us to deliver the exclusive reports that launched the newspaper into an already crowded market. I joined The Nigerian Compass from one of the country’s flagship newspapers, having worked in other leading newsrooms. Yet, the entrepreneurial grooming I experienced at Western Publishing under OGD was uniquely impactful. His ability to assemble and empower a formidable team—led by Biodun Oduwole, alongside figures such as Ogutimeyin and Gabriel Akinadewo (the “Newsroom General”)—spoke volumes about his leadership.
From the outset, as we garnered awards and commendations, it came as no surprise to those familiar with the inner workings of the organisation. Editors, from line editors to our indefatigable Editor-in-Chief, Biodun Oduwole, FNGE, were provided with brand-new cars. The conditions of service—state-of-the-art workstations, branded computers, comfortable offices, an indoor sports arcade, a full-service restaurant, landscaped lawns, and rest facilities—were exceptional. The “media village”, which also housed an FM radio station, was a model workplace where one could arrive and instantly feel at home. It was, by every standard, a dream environment for media professionals.
Whenever OGD joined editors and senior managers for meetings, one encountered not an overbearing boss but a soft-spoken, ever-smiling listener. Even when he had a clear point to make, he would say: “You know, I am not a professional here, you guys are. I just want to observe…” before offering his insight. The meetings were often long, yet consistently engaging. I never once saw him berate anyone or raise his voice.
As John Quincy Adams observed, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” Without doubt, OGD’s leadership and vision for media practice profoundly shaped our professional growth.
Across his other ventures, including Kresta Laurel, a frontline engineering company, the same ethos prevails. He possesses a natural gift for uplifting people, identifying and projecting talent, and promoting enterprise. It is therefore unsurprising that he became a multi-millionaire and captain of industry as early as his thirties. As Robert Ingersoll noted: “We rise by lifting others.” OGD’s greatness is best measured by the number of lives he has elevated.
As Governor of Ogun State from 2003 to 2011, he demonstrated the same capacity. He aggressively pursued industrialisation, opened up the state to economic opportunities, attracted investors, and established enabling frameworks for growth. The cargo airport recently inaugurated by Bola Ahmed Tinubu was initiated by him over 15 years ago—one of many enduring legacies. He positioned the state as a preferred destination for industries seeking expansion beyond neighbouring regions.
Born on April 6, 1956, in Ibadan, and hailing from Sagamu in Ogun State, the son of a clergyman is a top-class mechanical engineer, educated at the University of Lagos. From early career roles in international engineering firms—where he rose to senior management—he went on to build a formidable business empire before entering politics. His Sagamu residence remains a hub of constant human traffic, attracting people from all walks of life.
At 70, we do not merely mark the passage of time; we celebrate a legacy that continues to resonate across lives and institutions. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” This, indeed, is the enduring legacy of my boss as he celebrates his 70th birthday.
- Nnabuife, FNGE, FSNA, author, was Managing Editor at ‘The Nigerian Compass’. He writes from Awka, Anambra State.
