Marine, Blue Economy Ministry Gets New Permanent Secretary As Oloruntola Retires
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has witnessed leadership transition as Olufemi Oloruntola formally handed over office to Fatima Mahmood as Permanent Secretary.
The ceremony took place on Friday in Abuja and was attended by top management staff and directors of the ministry.
TheFactDaily notes that the transition coincides with Oloruntola’s retirement from the Federal Civil Service after 35 years of service.
Oloruntola recounted his career journey since joining the service in 1990 and highlighted key achievements recorded during his tenure. These, he said, included progress in marine security, promotion of sustainable blue economy initiatives, strengthened institutional capacity, and Nigeria’s admission into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council after a 14-year gap.
He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the opportunity to serve and thanked officers and staff of the ministry for their cooperation and support, while wishing his successor a successful tenure.
Tributes poured in from senior officials at the event, who described Oloruntola as a consummate public servant distinguished by intelligence, humility and dedication to duty.
They wished him well in retirement and encouraged the new Permanent Secretary to build on the progress achieved under his leadership.
In her remarks, Mahmood pledged to sustain and advance the legacies she inherited, stressing her commitment to teamwork, inclusiveness and effective collaboration.
She called on directors and staff of the ministry to support her in implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, particularly in strengthening the ministry’s contribution to national development and the growth of Nigeria’s blue economy.
Mahmood, a seasoned civil servant, brings extensive experience to her new role, having previously served as Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
