Dora Akunyili: A Tribute

News of the death of a great amazon and
former Director- General of the National
Agency for  Food and Drug Administrations and Control (NAFDAC), and Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili  came to many Nigerians as a rude shock.
Indeed, the valedictory session by the Federal Executive Council on late Dora Akunyili made it clear to Nigerians that a patriot par excellence had truly passed on. It is unbelievable and most painful to imagine that Nigeria would lose this rare gem and one of an inestimable value when her services are still needed.
Late Professor Dora Akunyili came to national limelight when she was appointed as Director General of NAFDAC. She raised a culture of excellence and honesty in the public service. She died on June 7, 2014 in an Indian hospital after what family sources described as complications arising from uterine cancer.
Born in Makurdi, Benue State on July 14, 1954  to Chief and Mrs Paul Young Edemobi, the memory of  late Professor Dora Akunyili will remain indelible in the minds of Nigerians for her industry, transparency and selfless services to her country.
As Director General of NAFDAC, she changed the landscape of food and drugs administration in Nigeria. In spite of the fact that a lot of people from her ethnic extraction were feeding on the business, she clamped down on that illicit trade in the interest of the nation.
Her uncommon courage in the war against fake and counterfeit drugs recorded outstanding success by bringing down the circulation of fake and counterfeit drugs to 16.7 per cent and an  improvement in food and other related substances.
In fact, Dora Akunyili came under various attacks by drug barons who blackmailed, threatened and even shot at her for daring to protect Nigerians from the dangers of fake and counterfeit drugs. To get to her, some persons even put fire to one of the facilities of NAFDAC.
As a Minister of Information and Communications, Dora upheld professional ethics of the media, stood by the media in an un-common partnership and rebranded Nigeria both nationally and internationally. The image of Nigeria received a boost when she flagged-off the Re-branding Nigeria project driven by the slogan: Nigeria: Good people, Great Nation.
A woman of many parts, Dora was versatile in many areas of human endeavour. Dora Akunyili received over six hundred awards and recognitions locally and internationally, notable among which is the National Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).
A post Doctorate Fellow of University of London and Fellow of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists, Late Professor Dora Akunyili held several positions of responsibility in Nigeria as a professional in the course of her career.
As an academic, Dora, presented more than 600 papers delivered in various local and international conferences. She published four books and wrote scientific articles published in 37 local and international journals, in addition to Ph, D and Masters degree candidates that she had supervised.
Professor Dora Akunyili, was a woman of proven integrity,  she resigned her position as Minister of Information and Communications and ventured into politics, when she aspired   to serve her own people in Anambra State as a Senator.
Even at the face of serious health challenges, she accepted to serve her dear country as a member of the National Conference. Without a doubt, Late Professor Dora Akunyili gave her all and her best to her beloved country. She spoke out even when men feared to speak the truth. In many ways, she was exemplary and deserves to be immortalised.