When the news broke a few days back that Lagos Commissioner, Mr Tunji Bello was going to be 60, I was pleasantly surprised This is because I have never pictured him in that light, as an old man. He has always been a youthful person, who rolls with The Boys. He has always been a media man who was always on the move. That was before he moved into public service. He is an environmentalist, political scientist, an accomplished journalist and a lawyer, all rolled into one.
I got to know him at the Concord Press, Ikeja, Lagos in those good old days. He was a top shot in the Editorial Department of The Concord Newspapers, and I was a Reporter with African Concord headed by Mr B (Bayo Onanuga). The 2 publications shared the same compound and I admired Mr Bello from afar. He was a damn good professional who all the Boys liked. He was friends with my direct boss, Mr B. I use to follow closely his articles and reports them. And he had a team of reporters who worked with him then, many of whom are now the Big Boys controlling the Media today. He has paid his dues.
He has always been a disciplined man, guided by his own principles which have helped him become the great man he is today.
His profile is intimidating and impressive, for a media man. Let me show you what I mean. Let me also tell you a bit about this my Oga who I have tremendous respect for.
He was born on July 1, 1961. He holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Ibadan, which he obtained in 1984 in addition to a Masters in International Law Diplomacy ML.D (1987) from the University of Lagos. He is also a Barrister at Law (BL) qualifying from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 2001, having graduated with an LL.B (Hons.) (Bachelors of Law) from the University of Lagos, Nigeria (2000)
He began his career at Concord Press of Nigeria as a Feature Writer.At various times he was also an Assistant Features Editor, Political Editor, Editor Sunday Concord and National Concord respectively.
He was once a Staff Writer with St. Petersburg Times, Florida, USA and the US News & World Report, Washington DC in 1992.
Apart from serving as Special Assistant to Bashorun MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, he became a frontline member of the PRO-DEMOCRACY group that fought for the revalidation of that electoral mandate from 1993 to 1999.
His activism days dated back to the University of Ibadan when he was the Vice-President of the Students Union. He joined This Day newspaper in 2000 as Chairman of its Editorial Board and left in 2003 to serve under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commissioner for the Environment.
A multiple award winner, he won the Concord Press award for Journalistic Excellence and Bravery and; Concord Publisher’s Best Editorial Manager, Winner, Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship, USA.
He was a recipient of amongst others; the University of Ibadan Distinguished Alumnus Award and the University of Lagos Distinguished Alumni Achievers Award Of Excellence.
He was honoured by Nigerian Society of Engineers, lkeja, Lagos branch and the UNDP for laying the foundation for environmental sustenance in Lagos state. He has authored one book and contributed to four others.
In July 2011, he joined former Governor,Babatunde Fashola administration’s cabinet once again, as Environment Commissioner where he meritoriously served till May 29, 2015.
Following the successful outcome of the 2015 gubernatorial elections whereby Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode emerged the winner and became Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Tunji Bello was appointed the Secretary to the State Government on the 29th May, 2015 serving till the expiration of the tenure of Mr Ambode.
On August 20, 2019, following the confirmation of his nomination as a cabinet member by the State House of Assembly, Mr Tunji Bello took the oath of office as the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources before Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
He is happily married to a distinguished intellectual, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University and blessed with children.
I wish my Oga a very happy birthday and many more fruitful years in good health and happiness.
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