Kemi Ajumobi 
Gabriel Ogbechie
Group Managing Director, Rainoil
I saw his video on LinkedIn and it caught my attention. Why? Because our ‘We’ve Got Men’ personality for this week was speaking on the importance of your staff and why you must see them as vital to the growth of your organisation. He got me. When you are up there, and you recognise the value of the people who work for you, it speaks a lot about who you are.
Anne M. Mulcahy, former CEO of Xerox Corporation said “Employees are a company’s greatest asset – they’re your competitive advantage. You want to attract and retain the best, provide them with encouragement and stimulus and make them feel that they are an integral part of the company’s mission.”
Harvey S. Firestone, Founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is another one. He said “The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”
I saw that video and listening to him, I wanted to hear more. So, I began to search and it was an edifying experience. Each video inspired me and I picked something that triggered a greater desire to pursue excellence, even more. He says “You must have a work culture” “When to be disciplined is when no one is watching you” “Take a long term view of your business and honour commitments” “ In the long term, it will be to your interest, you need to be hard working” “It’s the fire in your stomach that keeps you going, you need grit because failure is not an option.” I could go on and on. Tell me how you will listen to such words and you won’t feel fired up?
Well, I speak of none other than Gabriel Ogbechie, Group Managing Director, Rainoil Limited. Rainoil Limited is an integrated energy company and a prominent player in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The Rainoil Group comprises business operations that span across the downstream value chain.
Today, they boast of 180+ retail outlets with over 160 service stations spread across Nigeria, 3 depots consisting of ultra-modern tank farms with a combined capacity of 150 million litres. Also, they own and operate a fleet of 300 tank trucks and other impressive possessions. Today, with outlets spanning across 27 states in Nigeria, 26 years in service and counting, Rainoil has indeed shown that a modest beginning is just a starting point. With focus, grit and audacity, you can succeed.
Gabriel’s company didn’t just become great like the speed of light. He had served efficiently in organisations where he previously worked at, and chose to start his own business. How was he able to commence? With a knack for identifying where the opportunities lie, he saw prospects in the downstream oil and gas sector, and in 1997, he founded Rainoil Limited.
Gabriel Ogbechie is a graduate of Production Engineering from the University of Benin. He began his early career as a factory engineer between 1989 and 1991 and subsequently joined PricewaterhouseCoopers, a leading firm of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants. He spent four years at Ascon Oil, heading the sales and operations unit.
Beyond being a businessman, he is also into philanthropy through the establishment of The Gabriel Ogbechie Foundation in Delta State which provides scholarships to undergraduates, community healthcare services as well as youth employment initiatives. There is also the Rainoil Community Empowerment Programme, where he focuses on financial support to orphanages in Lagos and Abuja, and the provision of physical infrastructures and public amenities in local communities in Delta State.