IT was an evening of nostalgia, gratitude, and glowing tributes as friends, colleagues, and admirers from Nigeria’s media, academia, and public service gathered to celebrate Mr. Hakeem Babatunde Bello, veteran journalist, public communicator, and Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), as he clocked 60 years.
News Point Nigeria reports that the event, marked by the launch of a tribute volume titled “The Àtàndá Anthology: Words, Reflections, Images, Essays on Media and the Arts,” held in Lagos, drew eminent personalities including former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON; pioneer Guardian editor Lade Bonuola; ThisDay Managing Director Eniola Bello; veteran journalist Taiwo Obe; and leading academics Professors Tunde Akanni, Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, Wumi Raji, and Akin Adesokan.
The 324-page anthology, published by Kraft Books and edited by Barakah Temitope Bello, Wùnmíbáyô Lúpìtàn, and Stanley Ugagbe, chronicles Bello’s professional journey, his impact on Nigerian journalism, and his quiet but enduring influence on public communication and governance.
In an emotionally charged foreword to the book, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who worked closely with Bello for over two decades both as Governor of Lagos State and later as Minister described the celebrant as “a selfless patriot whose sacrifices defined loyalty and service.”
“He resigned his own job to help me start what was then an uncertain political career,” Fashola wrote. “Since then, he has made my career his own for more than two decades. This work will explain what sacrifice looks like to those who still lack a definition.”
He lauded Bello’s humility, discipline, and sense of duty, describing him as “a man of modest needs and content, who takes family responsibilities as seriously as his professional duties.”
“This anthology is more than a book,” Fashola added. “It is a monument to friendship, service, and integrity.”
Mr. Lade Bonuola, pioneer Editorial Director of The Guardian, described him as “the embodiment of discipline and humility.”
“I have interacted with him as a colleague, editor, journalist, and public servant. I cannot recall one instance he let me down — whether in attitude or action,” Bonuola said.
For Mr. Eniola Bello, Managing Director of ThisDay, the bond runs far deeper. Recalling their university days at Ilorin, he said,
“He and I share much more than a surname. We studied English together at the University of Ilorin and graduated in 1988. Over 40 years, he has been a brother loyal, principled, and kind.”
Veteran journalist Taiwo Obe, founder of The Journalism Clinic, hailed Bello as “a human being of exceptional goodness and patience,” while Prof. Tunde Olusunle, poet and journalist, reminisced about their early creative years at the University of Ilorin Creative Writers’ Club and the Ajon Players Drama Troupe.
“Hakeem was a superb and brilliant mind, respected for his intellect, morality, and quiet confidence,” Olusunle wrote.
The academic world also joined in celebrating Bello’s intellectual contributions. Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, described him as “a distinguished scholar even as an undergraduate.”
“He wrote his final thesis on Wole Soyinka under Professor Niyi Osundare and earned top grades. Hakeem was kind, calm, and intellectually gifted,” Na’Allah recalled.
Professors Wumi Raji and Akin Adesokan also praised Bello’s “rare blend of intelligence, humility, and conviction,” with Raji noting that “he stands as proof that humility and intellect can thrive in one man.”
Away from the limelight, tributes from Bello’s family revealed a deeply compassionate husband and father.
His wife, Alhaja Habeebat Bello, described him as “a responsible man who never complains but always finds solutions.”
“He’s a man of faith who leads with kindness,” she said. “No distance is ever too far for him to visit our children in school.”
Their children; Barakah, Kareemah, Raheemah, and Mubarak celebrated their father’s character and sacrifices.
“He’s a role model, not because he tries to be one, but because that’s who he is,” said Raheemah.
“He sacrificed so much to give us the life he never had,” added Kareemah.
“He always reminds us that honesty is better than comfort,” said Mubarak.
Extended family members described him as “a compassionate mentor and protector,” while his in-law, Prof. Mopelola Omoegun, Vice Chancellor of Monarch University, said, “He carries responsibilities with grace, unassuming but dependable.”
Beyond the personal tributes, the anthology also includes academic essays exploring the ethics and evolution of Nigerian media.
Mr. Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN, contributed a powerful paper titled “Fake News, Cyberbullying, and Hate Speech: What Is It and How Do We Deal with It?”, which examines the moral and legal obligations of journalists in the digital age.
“Freedom of expression must not be weaponised,” Enebeli warned. “Expression should be guided by empathy, and laws by ethics.”
Other essays, including “Television as a Cultural Force” by Nwani Chidi Joseph, “Representation of Women and Minorities in Contemporary Media” by Akumadu Lucy Obiageri, and “Social Media and the Rise of Citizen Journalism” by Stanley Ugagbe reflect Bello’s lifelong advocacy for ethical, inclusive, and people-centred journalism.
“Our father believes knowledge must serve humanity,” said Barakah Bello, one of the editors. “That belief guided every essay we selected.”
The anthology’s title, Àtàndá, a Yoruba term meaning “one who spreads light” encapsulates the essence of Hakeem Bello’s life and career.
“This book is our modest way of sharing his light with others,” co-editor Wùnmíbáyô Lúpìtàn said. “It reminds us that humility and intellect are still virtues worth celebrating.”
As one of his protégés noted, “If journalism is a calling, then Hakeem Bello has answered it with grace, purpose, and quiet distinction.”
The Àtàndá Anthology stands not merely as a birthday gift, but as a living testament to a man who exemplifies truth, service, and the enduring power of words.