A life of service: Inside Bello's remarkable 34-year public service journey

Three Decades of Public Service Excellence

Tpl. (Mrs.) Bello Risikat Bukola, FNITP, MRTPI, a prominent town planning expert with the Lagos State Government, has officially retired from the state public service after 34 years of dedicated labor. The retirement ceremony, held in Lagos, served as a triple celebration, marking her 60th birthday and the launch of her autobiography, The Story of a Resilient Woman Town Planner Who Built More Than Cities.

The event drew a high-profile audience including Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, and several traditional rulers, including the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom and the Ojora of Ijora Land. Colleagues and industry leaders gathered to pay tribute to a career defined by professionalism and a steadfast commitment to urban development and institutional growth.

Digitalization and Institutional Reforms

Bello’s professional legacy is deeply intertwined with the modernization of physical planning in Lagos State. She is credited with championing the digitalization of planning permit administration through the Electronic Planning Permit (Lagos-EPP) platform. Her work provided the foundational framework for the current Lagos State Electronic Planning Permit Processing System, a critical component of the state's drive toward improved electronic governance.

Her contributions have been recognized both locally and internationally. Between 2017 and 2019, she received World Bank Group Certificates and Letters of Appreciation for her instrumental role in the "Doing Business" reforms. In addition to these honors, she holds the Lagos State Long Service Award and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, reflecting her significant impact on the profession and her advocacy for sustainable urban growth.

Philanthropy and Community Development

Beyond her administrative achievements, the ceremony highlighted Bello’s dedication to humanitarian causes through the RISIBELLO Charity Foundation. During the proceedings, the foundation presented Legacy Awards and scholarships to 18 outstanding students selected from three regions of Nigeria. This initiative reflects her ongoing focus on youth empowerment, mentorship, and social inclusion as she transitions into a new phase of service.

In a gesture aimed at encouraging excellence within the civil service, 20 Lagos State employees were presented with Awards of Excellence and Good Conduct for their integrity and diligence. The event also featured a unique recognition for Master Adetona AbdulRaham Adedeji, a seven-year-old aspiring town planner, signaling Bello's commitment to nurturing the next generation of professionals. Speakers at the event noted that while her formal career has ended, her influence will persist through the institutions she helped modernize and the many lives impacted by her foundation.