Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, has received accolades from prominent Nigerians on his 60th birthday.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state, and Babatunde Fashola, minister of works are among prominent Nigerians that have celebrated the journalist-lawyer turned-public servant.
The president asked young Nigerians to draw inspiration from the “accomplished journalist, political scientist, lawyer, and public administrator”.
“The President applauds an accomplished journalist, political scientist, lawyer, and public administrator, who has shown that through dint of hard work and the grace of God, the door of success remains wide open,” Buhari was quoted in a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson.
“He encourages the younger generation to draw inspiration from the reporter with the then Concord Press, who rose to Political Editor, Editor, Sunday Concord, and Editor, National Concord.”
To honour the Lagos commissioner on his 60th birthday on July 1, a book, titled: “In Pursuit of The Public Purpose”, which was co-edited by Kayode Komolafe and Louis Odion, was produced.
In the foreword of the book, Osinbajo said Bello is a knowledgeable and effective journalist with “strong convictions and courage to back them up”.
The vice-president recounted the roles played by Bello in the environment ministry during the administration of Tinubu, while he was the attorney-general of the state.
“As we experimented on methods and struggled through these challenges during our first four years (I was attorney-general and commissioner for justice at the time), it became clear that the environment ministry was one that needed a miracle worker to man successfully,” Osinbajo writes in the foreword.
“It was against this background that the governor came up with the idea of putting Tunji Bello on this difficult job at commencement of his second term of office.”
Tinubu described Bello as “steadfast, principled and a man of excellence”, adding that he never carried out partial works or made excuses.
“In difficult times, the character of a person is most revealed. I have seen Tunji in action in such moments. He remained steadfast and intact. A man of principle, Tunji never backed away from the fight worth fighting,” he said.
“He got the work done better than I thought possible. As governor, I knew after giving Tunji an assignment, that I no longer had to be concerned about it.”
On his part, Fashola, who appointed Bello as commissioner between 2011 and 2015, said Bello deserves every credit he is getting for his contribution to the greening programme, while commending him for his “infectious spirit” in the face of several challenges.
“As chief of staff to governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I got the opportunity to interact very closely with Tunji Bello as an active “Kitchen Cabinet” member whose infectious spirit contributed immensely to resolving several challenges at the period,” Fashola said.
Contributors from the media are Segun Babatope, Dele Momodu, Dapo Olorunyomi, Victor Ifijeh, Eniola Bello (Eni B), Femi Adesina, Gbenga Adefaye, Azu Ishiekwene, Sam Omatseye, Segun Adeniyi, and Kayode Komolafe.
Others include Lanre Arogundade, Fred Ohwahwa, Segun Ayobolu, Simon Kolawole, Owei Lakemfa, Richard Akinola, Louis Odion, Ose Oyamendan, Jonas Agwu, Yomi Idowu, Warees Solanke, Sani Zorro, and Goke Odeyinka.
