By No doubt the swearing in of Hakeem Muri-Okunola has furthered the assertion that age is but a number as the 47 years old became the 21st Head of Service in the economic capital of Nigeria. Aside the young age of this bright civil servant, it is also interesting to know that he was a product of a state university.
Black Box Nigeria brings you the full profile of this Nigerian par excellence who was until his recent promotion the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youths & Social Development.
A brilliant lawyer and member of the Nigeria Bar Association and International Bar Association, Hakeem Muri-Okunola was born on January 7, 1972 to the family of late Justice Muri-Okunola.
He had his secondary school education at the Nigeria Naval School, Lagos between 1982 and 1987 where he came out successful with A Grades at the GCSE’s ‘O’ Levels. He proceeded on admission to the Lagos State University, Ojo, where he studied Law and graduated with the LL.B Honors in 1993.
He, then in his quest for academic excellence proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, between 1994 and 1995 and came out successful with a Bachelor of Law (B.L Hons), and was subsequently called to the Nigeria Bar. For his postgraduate studies, he attended Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, England, where he earned a Master’s degree with merit in international Business Law in 1999.
Mr. Hakeem Muri-OKunola started his working career when he had a stint as Associate Solicitor with Adepetun, Caxton-Martins and Agbor Barristers and Solicitors where he became proficient at drafting, reviewing and advising on various legal matters such as: commercial property, employment and oil and gas operations. In 2001, he was appointed as Company owned by Lagos State.
He was to later serve as Personal Assistant to former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, between 2003 and 2005. Thereafter, he was appointed Executive Secretary to the Governor on Land Use & Allocation Committee, a post he held between February 2005 and February 2011. He was at one time Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Land Matters.
Having garnered invaluable experience in government affairs and corporate management, he was elevated as Permanent Secretary, Land Bureau by the erstwhile Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola 21, 2011, a capacity in which he was instrumental to the processing of Electronic Certificate of Occupancy amongst others. In 2015, he was redeployed as Permanent Secretary, Youth & Social Development.
Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola is a member of many social organizations among which include: Ikoyi club 1938, Lagos Motor Club, Lagos Polo Club, and F’s Club. He has, as his hobbies, soccer, athletics, polo, boating, squash, basketball and water sports. He is happily married with children.
Hakeem Muri-Okunola is an alumni of the Lagos State University and Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, England from where he acquired LLB (Hons) and LLM (Merit) in Law. He is a member the Nigerian bar Association and the International Bar Association. His professional career started as an Associate Solicitor in the Law Firm of Adepetun Caxton-Martins and Agbor between 1996 – 2000.
