Tunji Bello: A Leader Who Breaks Bureaucratic Barriers
As Tunji Bello, the executive vice-chairman and chief executive of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), approaches his 65th birthday on Wednesday, 1 July, tributes have poured in from colleagues and admirers. Among them is Professor Tunde Akanni, LASU's first professor of journalism and development communication, who is currently on sabbatical at the FCCPC. Akanni describes Bello as a rare public officer who combines intellectual sophistication with genuine warmth and accessibility.
According to Akanni, Bello's greatest asset is his relationship with people. “His warmth draws people to him as naturally as bees are drawn to honey,” Akanni writes. Across professional, political, and social circles, many testify to his kindness, generosity, and readiness to assist. In a country where officialdom is often weighed down by bureaucracy and rigidity, Bello stands out as a humane and approachable leader.
A Sabbatical Experience That Defied Expectations
Akanni recounts his own experience seeking a sabbatical placement. After approaching several federal agencies and receiving indifference or outright silence, he reached out to Bello, whom he had not seen in nearly a decade. Bello responded promptly: “We can fix it. Send in your papers.” He gave Akanni complete freedom to choose his start date. “I immediately perceived openness, empathy, and a willingness to look beyond bureaucratic conventions,” Akanni recalls.
The approval process was equally smooth, with Bello's wife—the Vice-Chancellor—also showing similar efficiency. “Like husband, like wife,” Akanni notes. Once at the FCCPC, Bello advised Akanni to study the commission and identify gaps, entrusting him with intellectual freedom rather than prescribing tasks. “The researcher that you are,” Bello said, “see how you can fill the noted gaps so we can appreciate you.”
From Journalist to Consumer Protection Champion
Akanni first knew Bello as an editor at Concord Press, where he worked as a senior staff writer. Even then, Bello possessed intellectual depth, professional rigour, and warmth. As FCCPC CEO, Bello has led the commission to become one of Nigeria's most visible and impactful regulatory institutions. Under his stewardship, the FCCPC has asserted itself in enforcing competition and consumer protection laws.
Foremost essayist Sam Omatseye, a former colleague, notes that Bello is particularly given to “fighting for justice.” This commitment resonates with Akanni, who served as spokesperson for the Civil Liberties Organisation during the Abacha years. Akanni has integrated consumer protection perspectives into his public commentaries, deepening understanding of consumer rights and responsibilities.
A Model of Humane Leadership
Bello's leadership style contrasts sharply with the norm. “Many public officials in Nigeria erect invisible walls around themselves, making access difficult,” Akanni observes. Bello, however, remains independent-minded, warm, and devoid of airs. His tenure at the FCCPC has brought not only competence but also the tenacity of a journalist and the attention to detail of a good lawyer.
Akanni concludes: “As someone privileged to have known him first as an editor and now as chief executive of the FCCPC, I remain proud and grateful for the opportunity to work with him once again. My very best wishes go to a man whose humanity remains as impressive as his accomplishments. Sixty-five hearty birthday cheers, sir.”
