Anambra Commissioner for Information writes on Dora

                                                                

DORA Akunyili was born into the family of Chief & Mrs. Paul Edemobi of Nanka, Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State of Nigeria at Markurdi Benue State in 1954. Dora, as she was fondly called had a brilliant educational career which started with her passing the First School Leaving Certificate Examination (FSLCE) in Distinction, Grade 1, Distinction in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in 1973 (Secondary School). These outstanding results earned her the Eastern Nigerian Government Post Primary Scholarship and the Federal Government of Nigeria undergraduate scholarship, respectively.

  Young Dora gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) whereat she bagged a B.Pharm (Hons) and a Ph.D in Pharmacy in 1978 and 1985 respectively. At UNN, she won the best student award in the School of Pharmacy and the Vice-Chancellor's Post Graduate and Research Leadership Prize in Pharmaceutical Sciences for the 1984/85 and 1985/86 academic sessions.

  Prof Dora started her working career as a hospital Pharmacist in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu in 1978. In 1981, she ventured into the academia as a Graduate Assistant (Research Fellow) in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In the University system, she made a steady progress from Graduate Assistant through to Lecturer I and then to Senior Lecturer in 1990. Dora also worked as a part time Lecturer at the West African College of Pharmacist, Lagos, Nigeria between 1992 and 1995. In 1992, she transferred to the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Campus, where she rose to become a Consultant Pharmacologist in 1996.

  In 2006, the University of Nigeria Nsukka promoted her to the rank of Professor of Pharmacology.

  As a Scientist and Scholar, Prof Dora supervised many Masters and Ph.D degree candidates and presented well over 500 papers in various local and international conferences, published 4 books locally and internationally.

  In politics, Prof Dora started at the lowest tier of Government when she was appointed Supervisory Councilor for Agriculture in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State between 1994 and 1996. In 1997 she was appointed Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) where she coordinated all projects in the 5 Eastern States (Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu & Imo) of Nigeria till 2000.

  The icing and climax of Dora's political career was when she was appointed the DIRECTOR GENERAL of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in April 2001. At NAFDAC, Prof Dora recorded incredible success. Before Prof Dora took charge at NAFDAC, food and drug regulation, check and control were in a neutral gear and thus motionless.  All manners of adulterated, fake and substandard foods and drugs were dumped, distributed, circulated and consumed in Nigeria. Under Prof Dora's watch and leadership of NAFDAC the level and volume of adulterated, counterfeit and fake food items and drugs in circulation were drastically checked, and controlled so that fake and counterfeit drugs in circulation dropped to as low as 16% with appreciable improvement in the food and other regulated sectors.  Prof Dora put in everything she could and had, and almost put in her life in fighting fake drugs in the country.  Several attempts were made on her life in the course of this fight but for the very special grace and love of God who is the giver and taker of life.  All she did at NAFDAC till date speak eloquently for themselves - Res Ipsa Loquitor and volumes about her.  Dora left NAFDAC in 2008 leaving very big, large and mighty shoes for her successor. 

  Prof Dora was thereafter appointed the Honourable Minister for Information and Communications, a position she held for 2 years before she resigned to vie for a seat in the Nigerian Senate.  As a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Prof Dora brought the same ingenuity and resilience to bear, also leaving remarkable and indelible inprints thereat.  She anchored the Re-Branding Nigeria Project predicated and propelled  on and by the slogan – Nigeria, Good People, Great Nation.  A programme conceptualized and articulated to address Nigeria's negative perception and image both at home and in the diaspora, and indeed to make and keep Nigeria a great nation of good people.  Dora also in her life time served as a member of the National CONFAB 2014.

  For Prof Dora's industry and commitment to the values of honesty, transparency and selfless service, she received well-over 600 awards and recognitions locally and internationally, among  which were the conferment with the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the recognition as Icon of hope for Nigerians by the Federal Government of Nigeria.  Integrity Award by Transparency International in South Korea (2003); Agribusiness International Award (2003); Special Award for combating Economic Crime by International Chamber of Commerce – Commercial Crimes Service London (2004); Amazon of Integrity by National Council of Women Society (2004); International Service Grassroots Rights Campaigner Award by Human rights Defence Organization in Britain House of Commons (2005); Person of the Year 2005 Award by Silverbird Communications' Honoured as one of the 18 Heroes (Health) of our time by Times Magazine New York (2005); International Euro Market Award (2005) and Transbusiness Award (2006) by the European Market Research Centre (EMRC) Business, Hon. Georgia Citizen by the State of Georgia, USA (2006); Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) by the University of Bristol, London (2006); elected Honorable Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (2008); Nigeria's 5 Greatest Living Legends Award by Silverbird Group and Vanguard media (2009); Recognition as Nigerian Woman of Distinction at Nigeria's 50th Year Independence Anniversary Celebration (2010); Minister of the Year Award (2010) and Nigeria royalty Award (2010).

  On the 7th day of June, 2014, Professor Dora Akunyili passed on.  Prof Dora's death, evoked great grief of untold proportions for those who knew her closely or had come in close contact with her, it was an ordeal of the most grievous kind.  Infact Prof Dora's demise was felt and is still being felt by a very wide spectrum of Nigerians and foreigners.  This is because Dora touched so many lives positively.  Though dying at a relatively young age of 59 years the empathy and emotions elicited by her demise are evident all across board in the country and beyond.

  We are so much pained as we remember Prof Dora one year after her death. We are sad and will for a very long time remain sad because we lost a great daughter of exceptional acclaim and accomplishments. We are devastated by Dora's death, but we take solace in the fact that her legacies for a better and great Nigeria live on.  Dora through her life and works showed us that life is much beyond self indulgence and personal gains. It is much more about being there for one another, for others and for humanity and the society.

  We miss Prof Dora in the defiant moments when she stood her ground resolute in her faith, commitment and purpose.  We miss her in all the intangible ways she touched the lives of so many of us we cannot precisely say.  Our consolation can be located also in the words of the Great Poet, MAYA ANGELOU, who wrote, “a great soul serves everyone all the time.  A great soul never dies, it brings us together again and again”.

  As we look back at the yesterdays we shared with Prof Dora, we will take who she was, what she stood for and be guided by them.  We remember Dora today in a great sense of fulfillment for a life effectively lived.  A life of service to humanity.  A life we should all be grateful to God for.  Hence we will always remember, speak and talk about Professor Dora Akunyili with a saddened but gratified heart.  Dora lived beautifully, productively, brilliantly and excellently in the service of people, nation. Humanity and god, in whose bossom we believe, with faith, she is already resting.

  Prof Dora was remarkable in so many ways.  A woman defiant against ills.  A champion for good cause.  She lived a principled life underpinned by a strong sense of the right and correct.  Prof Dora never stepped back or out of challenges.  She always had a stand.  All these she lived out in her life and services to her country and humanity.

  Prof Dora was an internationally renowned pharmacist, pharmacologist, erudite scholar, seasoned administrator and a visionary leader.  Prof Dora served her country in several and strategic positions so excellently.

  We thank Nigerians for sharing in our loss we thank the International community for commiserating with us.  Yes, though Prof Dora lived and died for all, she was our own, a great daughter of the great Anambra State.  The empathy demonstrated and shared by all at Prof Dora's death encourage us.  Her death should strengthen our resolve as Ndi Anambra to remain the light of the nation.  Hence no honour and nothing done to immortalize this great daughter of Anambra by the Government and people of the State will be too much.

Long live the memories of Professor Dora Akunyili

Long live Anambra State.

Dr (Mrs) Nwogu is Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Anambra State.