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By Kayode Oyesiku
OGD is a mentor, a leader who sees beyond the present, political expert, administrator par excellence and lover of sacred music.
At 70 years old we celebrate a man with uncommon vision, resilience and leadership: His Excellency, the
Senator Otunba Eng. Gbenga Daniel FNSE (OGD). OGD’s life has been defined by service and foresight.
As governor of Ogun State, he transformed the landscape of governance, industry and education. His belief in education as the foundation of development is not mere rhetoric but a passion and necessity for future generations.
I remember with gratitude the day I met OGD in 1971, when I was enrolled as a new student at Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta. He was already in the third form. He later became the leader of the school Literary and Debating Society, the school quiz team and the leader of the school choir, of which I was a member, two years his junior.
That time at the School ultimately formed the foundation of my career and opportunities
in the next life. Senior Daniel was then a leader and mentor, very charismatic and brilliant to the point that the members of the groups he led in secondary school also became academically exceptional.
When the first University of Education in Nigeria was established by his administration in 2005, Tai Solarin University of Education, as the first full-fledged University of Education in Africa, OGD became the forerunner of Universities of Education not only in Nigeria but in Africa.
Today there are more than 20 universities of education in Nigeria, and the one established by OGD has become very outstanding and unique not only where others learn but also very attractive to the federal government of Nigeria which eventually
took it over in 2025.
OGD has entrusted me with the enormous responsibility of becoming a pioneer
Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED). That singular decision wasn’t just a date; it was a testament to his confidence in my abilities and his commitment to building institutions that would stand the test of time.
To maintain and enhance the legacy that education remains the most important legacy any government can bequeath to its citizens, the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration in Ogun State has never left any doubt, since its inception in 2003, that teachers are indeed the most important human capital resource to invest in, develop and, above all, provide for.
Considering the high student-teacher ratios in both primary and secondary schools, the bad image often attributed to teachers and the attitude of the country’s previous administrations which despised teachers and in fact considered the teaching profession as belonging to the wretched, pushed the government to take a bold step by not only revamping the image of teachers but also by establishing a specialized university for teacher training in
Village.
OGD vigorously pursues the idea that pursues the future of any economy (developed or developing).
not only depends rigidly on the availability of natural resources (renewable and non-renewable), with which it is endowed, but also on the specialized skills, competences and capacities possessed by its population which can be exploited in the same way for an effective use of its resources.
Therefore, the strategic objective of
Governance in higher education is channeled towards “producing graduates who are well-rounded and well-grounded; who are skilled and competent; who are creative, flexible, and adaptive to new challenges; who are skilled in critical thinking and cultural literacy; who are empowered and empowered to participate fully in their economy, their society, and their globalizing world (OGD, 2009).
It is in this context that the Ogun State Government, under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, ventured into the creation of a full-fledged University of Education in Africa.
He noted that, however, we had heard of specialized universities such as the University of Agriculture and Technology, but the basis of basic education on the continent, that is, the science, method and skills for effective teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools, had never been the focus of any government’s attention since 2005.
Secondly, a generally poor performance of first- and second-year students in universities was observed, with a high percentage of them having several courses to repeat in their first year of university.
This was attributable to the poor understanding of these subjects by these new high school students.
This in turn is partly due to the quality of teachers produced by the various education faculties of Nigerian universities. Third, the Nigerian university curriculum was known to be deficient in producing graduates who could be self-employed or even employers, upon graduation.
Two main areas of deficiency in the university curriculum are professional skills and entrepreneurial knowledge. The University of Education is expected to incorporate them to produce graduates who are not alone
well informed in the subject matter of his discipline but well-rounded in professional skills with entrepreneurial knowledge to make the most of the resources at his disposal, to be self-sufficient after graduation.
These three reasons must have formed the core of the first University of Education in Africa. The need to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the human process
Capital development in a diverse and rapidly evolving technology-driven society has come to the fore.
TASUED’s vision is to be the educational university of choice, which will excel in preparation
educators who will be leaders in all areas of the discipline. The mission is to improve the quality of teaching and learning and continuously upgrade the methods and skills of knowledge providers by equipping them with modern technologies and services provided by qualified and motivated staff members to meet Nigeria’s contemporary and future needs with the ability to compete globally.
Working closely with him, I saw firsthand his humility, his listening, and his insistence on excellence. He was never satisfied with half measures; it required vision, innovation and resilience. His encouragement gave me the strength to face the challenges of establishing a new university, and his support ensured that TASUED became a model of educational innovation in Nigeria.
OGD’s legacy of service has revealed visionary governance; his mandate laid lasting foundations in education, health and infrastructure. Him
he is an institution builder, as TASUED and the other seven polytechnics he founded remain a living testimony to his foresight and commitment to education.
He is not just a leader, but a mentor as he has raised leaders in all industries, enabling them to serve with integrity and courage.
Having reached this milestone, I pray that the Almighty will grant him a long life of good health and renewed strength, crown his endeavors with greater success and divine favor, continue to let his path shine brighter, ensuring that his legacy inspires generations yet unborn, and bless his family with peace, joy and prosperity.
May the years ahead bring him even greater fulfillment and may his legacy continue to flourish in Egbaland, Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
Kayode Oyesiku pays glowing tribute to Otunba Gbenga Daniel at age 70.
‘PhD Kayode Oyesiku. FCILT, RTP, FINTP, FANG, FCIoTA.
Professor Emeritus, Pioneer Vice-Chancellor Tai Solarin University of Education (2005 – 2010)
Pioneer Executive Secretary, Ogun State Tertiary Institutions Office (2010 -2011)
Dean, College of Engineering and Environmental Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun
Campus (2014-2017) National Vice President, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (2014-2016) President, Association of Nigerian Geographers, 2016-2018.
Representative of Nigeria, International Geographic Union (IGU), Senior Fulbright Fellow, Senior Fulbright Program of the United States of America, hosted by Virginia, Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA (1996-1997)
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