MAGDALECIOUS MAGDALENE

Dr. Magdalene Ajani is a woman of steel. Her nature leaves one on the fence most times. Down to earth but determined, she abandoned her stethoscope for transport and logistics and yet not doing badly. As the Chief mother of the Ministry, she has a big umbrella for all. Adding “Mary” to Magdalene would have defined her personality better.

Ajani, Magdalene was born October 26, 1967. She hails from Agbor, Delta State. She started her career as a Civil Servant in the Lagos State Health Management Board as a Medical Officer; where she worked and went through trainings and rose to the position of Consultant Ophthalmologist in 2001.

She joined the Federal Service in 2006 as the first full time Consultant Ophthalmologist in the State House Medical Centre and rose to the position of Director in January 2013. Within this period, she encouraged and built a formidable Eye Care Team with specialization in different fields of eye care.

In 2018, Dr. Ajani was appointed a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service and on the 21st February, 2019 was deployed as the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, SPSO, Office of the Head of Service Welfare Office, SWO, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. During this period, she was also Chairman, Joint Union. In December, 2019 after the appointment of newly appointed Permanent Secretaries she handed over the portfolio of the SWO. As PS, SPSO she was in-charge of the Federal Civil Service Reforms Programme, which has metamorphosed to approved FCSSIP2021-2025.

She was later redeployed in August, 2020 as the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

As one of the pioneering Consultants and medical specialists in the Centre, she encouraged and mentored her younger colleagues to medical specialization. As Chairperson, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the hospital from 2008-2010, she advocated good work ethics and efficient service delivery.

Her love for humanity and quest to give back to the society and underprivileged sees her volunteering her time and services as the Lead of Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation (NGO) that provides free eye care/surgery, maternal & child health, and education to the less privilege in FCT, Delta and Imo states. So far, over 200,000 people have benefitted under this foundation.

Her continuous drive to acquire knowledge has taken her to local and international professional courses in Kenya, Austria and USA, among others. She is a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, Fellow of the International College of Surgeons and Glaucoma Fellow International Council of Ophthalmology.  She also has certificate in Management from Crown Agents, Worthington (U.K.), Leadership & Management from University of Washington (USA), among others.

Dr. Ajani  is working assiduously with her Ministers to deliver the presidential mandate and the National Development Plan 2021-2025 component of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

We present Dr. Ajani as a member of MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame, Class 2024.