Biography of Tunji Bello, appointment, career achievements

In this post, News360 Nigeria chronicles the biography and career achievements of Mr. Tunji Bello.

Olatunji Bello is a lawyer, environmentalist, political scientist, journalist and the sitting Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources under the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration in Lagos State.

He was recently appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024.

Profile overview

Name: Olatunji Bello

Date of birth: 1st July, 1961

State of origin: Lagos State, Nigeria

Education: University of Ibadan

Religion: Christianity

Marital status: Married

Career: Lawyer

Background

Olatunji Bello was born on 1st July, 1961 in Lagos State, Nigeria.

He has a BSc Degree from the University of Ibadan where he studied Political science and graduated in 1984. He earned his master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy ML.D in (1987) from the University of Lagos.

He also earned a Bachelor of Law degree from the same University of Lagos, Nigeria, in the year 2000.

Bello is a Barrister at Law (BL) qualifying from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos In 2001 having graduated wit LL.B (Hons.) (Bachelor Of Law).

Career

Tunji Bello began his career as an editor at the defunct Concord Press of Nigeriaat the defunct Concord Press of Nigeria. He started out as a Features Writer; was also an Assistant Features Editor.

His journalism career advanced so quickly that he became Politics Editor at the age of 27. He was later promoted to Editor of the Concord Newspapers Group’s Sunday title, followed by Editor of the Daily title.

He was also appointed Chairman of the Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspaper in 2000. In 1992, he worked as a staff writer for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, as well as the US News & World Report in Washington, DC.

Politics

Tunji Bello served as Vice President of the University of Ibadan Students Union while still a student. He has always agitated for democracy since the 80s.

His career in mainstream national politics began when he worked as Special Assistant to Bashorun MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was later declared void.

Tunji Bello joined the pro-democracy NADECO organization, which was active from 1993 to 1999 and fought for the actualization of democracy in Nigeria, following the annulment of the historic election.

After the handing over from the Military rule to the Democratic dispensation in 1999, Tunji Bello joined the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmeed Tinubu in his cabinet.

He served as the Head of Signage and Advertising Agency (LASSA) and also the Commissioner for Environment in the Asiwaju administration in 2003.

In July 2011, he joined the Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration as he was sworn in by the Governor as Commissioner for Environment where he served till May 29, 2015.

On May 29, 2015, following the inauguration of Akinwunmi Ambode as the new governor, Tunji Bello was named Secretary to the State Government. He would hold this position until Akinwunmi Ambode’s term ended in 2019.

He began working for the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in 2019.

After the State House of Assembly confirmed his nomination for a cabinet position, he was sworn in by the governor as the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, and he remains in that position today.

Appointment

On June 24, 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed him as Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the agency responsible for protecting market competition and promoting consumer protection in Nigeria.

Family

He is married to Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who has been Lagos State University’s vice-chancellor since September 2021.

Awards

Olatunji Bello has received several awards during the course of his career, some of these awards are;

He received the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship, United States.

He won the Concord Press award for Excellence and Bravery in Journalism, Concord Publisher’s Best Editorial Manager.

He was a recipient of 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, Ikeja, 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.