Hakeem Muri-Okunola Biography: Net Worth, Age, Wife, Height, Children, Siblings, Parents, Instagram, Presidential aide

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola, widely known by his initials HMO, is a Nigerian lawyer, public administrator, and the Principal Secretary to the President of Nigeria.

Born on Lagos Island, he has built a distinguished career spanning legal practice, state governance, and presidential administration.

He is widely recognized for his tenure as the Head of Service of Lagos State, where he led pioneering civil service reforms, and for his current role as the principal administrative adviser to President Bola Tinubu.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola
• Stage Name: HMO
• Born: January 7, 1972
• Age: 54 years old
• Birthplace: Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria
• Nationality: Nigerian
• Occupation: Lawyer, Public Administrator, Principal Secretary to the President
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Late Justice Muritala Aremu Okunola, Alhaja Ramdalat Fehintola Okunola
• Siblings: Abdul-Rasheed Abiola Muri-Okunola
• Spouse: Mrs. Abisola Muri-Okunola
• Children: 3
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2.8 million USD

Early Life and Education

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola was born on January 7, 1972, on Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria, to the late Justice Muritala Aremu Okunola and Alhaja Ramdalat Fehintola Okunola. He has four siblings, including Abdul-Rasheed Abiola Muri-Okunola.

He attended ADRAO International School and Ireti Primary School before proceeding to Nigeria Navy Secondary School, Lagos, where he studied from 1982 to 1987.

He earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Lagos State University (LASU) in 1995 and was called to the Bar as a Barrister-at-Law (B.L) from the Nigerian Law School in 1996.

He later obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Business Law from Queen Mary University of London in 1999 and completed executive programs at Harvard Kennedy School. He is Yoruba by ethnicity and practices Islam.

Career

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola began his legal career in private practice before transitioning into public service. He served as a Senior State Counsel in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, where he honed his expertise in public finance law and public-private partnerships.

He rose through the ranks to become the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, and later Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Establishment, Training, and Pensions. In 2017, he was appointed the Head of Service of Lagos State, the youngest person to ever hold that position.

In this role, he introduced digital human resource management systems, performance-based evaluations, and the Public Service Innovation Lab, significantly modernizing the state’s civil service.

In May 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Muri-Okunola as his Principal Secretary, a position equivalent to Chief of Staff in other presidential systems but focused on policy coordination, administrative oversight, and presidential correspondence management.

As Principal Secretary, he serves as the primary liaison between the President and government ministries, ensuring efficient implementation of executive directives.

His tenure has been marked by efforts to streamline presidential workflows, enhance inter-ministerial collaboration, and maintain continuity between his previous Lagos State experience and federal governance.

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola’s impact on Nigerian public administration is defined by his reputation as a technocrat whose expertise bridges law, governance, and institutional reform.

He has been described as one of the most competent civil servants of his generation, credited with institutionalizing accountability frameworks in Lagos State that were later adopted by other states.

Later-stage contributions include advising on federal civil service reforms and supporting the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). His career trajectory from state legal officer to the presidency’s inner circle serves as a model for career public servants.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @hmokunola
• Facebook Handle: Hakeem Muri-Okunola
• Twitter Handle: @hmokunola

Personal Life

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola is married to Mrs. Abisola Muri-Okunola, and the union is blessed with three children. He is a devout Muslim who maintains a low-profile personal life, rarely granting interviews about his family.

Known for his quiet demeanor, meticulous dressing, and preference for staying out of political controversy, Muri-Okunola is respected as a behind-the-scenes administrator rather than a public showman.

Net Worth

Hakeem Olayinka Muri-Okunola has an estimated net worth of $2.8 million USD. His primary income streams include his salaries and allowances from over two decades of public service as a state counsel, Permanent Secretary, Head of Service of Lagos State, and currently as Principal Secretary to the President. He also benefits from pensions and real estate investments in Lagos.