…Says he will lobby for its upgrade to full-fledged polytechnic
Senator Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel, former Ogun State Governor and current lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, has pledged to restore life to the Gateway Industrial Petro-Gas Institute (GIPI), a once-thriving oil and gas training centre that has suffered years of neglect.
The senator made this commitment during a visit to Oni, in the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, where he met with the institute’s management team led by Rector Lamidi Alebiosun. Daniel was warmly received by staff and students who expressed hope that his intervention would bring long-awaited revival to the institution.
Established in 2007 under Daniel’s administration, GIPI was designed to equip Ogun youths with vital oil and gas skills in anticipation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s proposed refinery project in the state. The plan was to make Ogun a major player in Nigeria’s industrial and energy landscape.
However, after Daniel’s tenure ended, successive governments failed to sustain negotiations with Dangote, leading to the relocation of the refinery project to Lagos State. Since then, the institute has been largely abandoned, struggling with poor funding, decaying facilities, and dwindling enrolment.
Speaking during the senator’s visit, Rector Alebiosun lamented the institute’s current state, describing it as “a baby still crawling after many years.” He presented a detailed list of challenges facing the school and appealed for urgent government attention to prevent total collapse.
In response, Senator Daniel expressed appreciation to the institute’s management for keeping the vision alive despite daunting setbacks. He commended their resilience and noted that several graduates of GIPI have gone on to achieve great success, both locally and internationally.
“I may no longer be in the executive arm, but as a senator, I will use every legislative and political influence available to ensure that this institute receives the attention it deserves,” Daniel assured.
The lawmaker revealed plans to work towards upgrading the institute into a full-fledged polytechnic, expanding its scope beyond oil and gas to include other technical and industrial programmes that would empower more young people across Ogun State.
Residents of Ogun Waterside and stakeholders at GIPI expressed optimism that Senator Daniel’s renewed commitment would mark a turning point for the struggling institution, which has waited nearly two decades for a second chance to fulfil its founding purpose.
