Lagos lawyer, Tope Adebayo, has joined Nigerians celebrating the Minister of Solid Minerals Developmen, Dele Alake as he marks his 70th birthday.

Adebayo, Senior Partner at Tope Adebayo LP, described Alake as an accomplished journalist, public servant and technocrat whose career has spanned the media, government and Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

In a tribute to the minister, Adebayo said Alake’s career reflected the values associated with his home state, Ekiti, which is widely known as the Fountain of Knowledge.

“Dele Alake’s life is a distinguished example of what it means to be a true son of Ekiti State, the Fountain of Knowledge,” he said.

Adebayo recalled Alake’s years as a journalist, during which he was known for holding those in power to account, as well as his later roles in government.

Alake served as Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos before moving to the federal government. President Bola Tinubu appointed him Minister of Solid Minerals Development in August 2023.

Adebayo said Alake had brought the same discipline and intellectual rigour to his public service career.

“From his years as a respected journalist holding power to account, through his role shaping public communication at state and federal levels, to his current stewardship of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, he has consistently embodied the intellect, discipline and integrity that Ekiti State is known for across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

Alake also currently chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where he has been involved in discussions around the development and management of Africa’s mineral resources.

Adebayo congratulated the minister on reaching the milestone, describing him as a “renowned journalist, a seasoned technocrat, and a committed public office holder”.

“On behalf of my partners and the entire team at Tope Adebayo LP, we celebrate a renowned journalist, a seasoned technocrat, and a committed public office holder who, at 70, continues to serve his country with distinction,” he said.

He added: “I extend warmest congratulations to you on this significant milestone. At 70, you have joined a distinguished company of Nigerians whose decades of service continue to leave an indelible mark on our national life.”

Alake’s 70th birthday has attracted tributes from colleagues, political figures, journalists and other Nigerians who have worked with him during his decades in public life.