*** Former Gov Peter Obi confirms death
Former Director General of the the NAFDAC and ex minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, has died according to a family source.
Dr. Akunyili died in an India Hospital where she has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. She was aged 59.
May her gentle soul Rest in Perfect Peace. Amen!
UPDATE
Dr. Akunyili died in an India Hospital where she has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. She was aged 59.
May her gentle soul Rest in Perfect Peace. Amen!
UPDATE
A former governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi have confirmed the
death of the former minister, on behalf of the Akunyili family.
According to Obi,” On behalf of the Akunyili’s family, I wish to
officially confirm the death of Prof. Mrs Dora Akunyili in a Specialist
Cancer Hospital in Indian this morning at 10 am, Nigerian Time, after a
two-year battle with cancer.
“In spite her illness, she was unwavering in her belief in a
better Nigeria. That was why she defied her condition and was part of Anambra
State Handover Committee and the National Conference.
“The last time I visited her in India, even when she needed all
the prayers herself, she was full of concern for Chibok girls,
security and other challenges facing the country and told me that she remained
prayerful for the release of those girls and for God to help
President Goodluck Jonathan to overcome all the challenges facing
the Nation. She therefore urged all Nigerians to remain prayerful and committed
to building a better society for our children. We all prayed together and
I promised to be visiting her every month.
“We thank all those who remain fervent in prayers for her
recovery and urge them to remain prayerful for the peaceful repose of her
soul.”
About DORA
Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili (OFR) was born in Makurdi, Benue State
(Nigeria) on the 14th of July 1954 to Chief & Mrs Paul Young Edemobi. She
is a devout Catholic and is happily married to Dr. J.C. Akunyili, a Medical
Practitioner and they are blessed with six children and three grandchildren.
Her hobbies include reading, writing, cooking and travelling. She speaks Igbo
and English fluently.
Prof. Akunyili, is an internationally renowned Pharmacist,
Pharmacologist, Erudite Scholar, Seasoned
Administrator, and a visionary leader.
Administrator, and a visionary leader.
She has served her country in numerous strategic positions
including as Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Federal Minister of Information and
Communication.
EDUCATIONAL CAREER
Prof. Akunyili’s educational career started with her passing the First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction in 1966, and the West African School Certificate (W.A.S.C.) with Grade I Distinction in 1973 (both in Nigeria), which earned her the Eastern Nigerian Government Post Primary Scholarship and the Federal Government of Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarship respectively. It is remarkable that throughout her high school career, Dora Akunyili was always top of her class – a record that has never been broken in the school to date.
Prof. Akunyili’s educational career started with her passing the First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction in 1966, and the West African School Certificate (W.A.S.C.) with Grade I Distinction in 1973 (both in Nigeria), which earned her the Eastern Nigerian Government Post Primary Scholarship and the Federal Government of Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarship respectively. It is remarkable that throughout her high school career, Dora Akunyili was always top of her class – a record that has never been broken in the school to date.
She got her B.Pharm (Hons) in 1978 and PhD in 1985, both at the
University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). Prof. Akunyili won the best student award
in the school of Pharmacy in her very first year in the school and the Vice
Chancellor’s Postgraduate and Research Leadership prize in Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences for 1984/85 and 1985/86 academic Sessions.
She was promoted to the rank of Professor of Pharmacology in
October, 2000 by the same University.
WORKING / EMPLOYMENTS EXPERIENCES
Prof. Akunyili started her working career as a Hospital Pharmacist in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu in 1978. In 1981, she ventured into Academics as a Graduate Assistant (Research Fellow) in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNN. In the University system, she made a steady progress from lecturer I in 1986 until she was made Senior Lecturer in 1990.
Prof. Akunyili started her working career as a Hospital Pharmacist in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu in 1978. In 1981, she ventured into Academics as a Graduate Assistant (Research Fellow) in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNN. In the University system, she made a steady progress from lecturer I in 1986 until she was made Senior Lecturer in 1990.
In 1992 she transferred to the College of Medicine, UNN and
became a Consultant Pharmacologist in 1996. She also worked as a part time
lecturer at the West African College of Pharmacists, Lagos, Nigeria from
1992-1995.
She was appointed Supervisory Councilor for Agriculture in Anaocha
Local Government of Anambra State, Nigeria from 1994 – 1996. Prof. Dora
Akunyili was appointed Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF),
where she coordinated all projects in the five South Eastern States of Nigeria
from 1997 – 2000.
Prof. Dora Akunyili was appointed Director General of the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria
from April 2001-2008. Here she recorded outstanding success. Prior to her
appointment, food and drug regulation in Nigeria was chaotic.
All manner of adulterated, fake and substandard food and drugs
were dumped into Nigeria resulting in over 60 percent of fake drugs in
circulation. Unscrupulous individuals made fortunes from such unwholesome
practices. When she assumed office, she brought in a new culture of excellence
and honesty to NAFDAC and the entire Nigerian public service. As a result, the
level of fake and counterfeit drugs in circulation dropped to 16.7 percent with
vast improvement in the food and other regulated sectors.
As a commentator in a national newspaper once wrote, “The NAFDAC
Director General is a revolutionary. She has not only changed NAFDAC, she has
also changed the pharmaceutical industry in the country.”
From December 2008 – December 2010, she worked as the Honourable
Minister of Information and Communications, Federal Republic of Nigeria. As the
Honourable Minister, Prof. Akunyili anchored the Re-branding Nigeria Project
driven by the slogan, Nigeria Good People, Great Nation. The programme was
conceived as an internal process to address Nigeria’s negative image both at
home and abroad. Dora has proved her versatility in all areas of human
endeavour as she also ventured into politics when she aspired to serve her own
people in Anambra State as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As a Scientist and a Scholar, she has presented over 600 papers
delivered in various Local and International Conferences, published 4 books and
written scientific articles published in 37 local and international journals.
She also supervised PhD and Masters candidates.
POSITIONS/PROFESSIONAL BODIES/FELLOWSHIP
Prof. Akunyili has held several positions of responsibility in Nigeria as a professional in the course of her career. She served in six Senate Committees and various Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Committees of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1986 –1992.
Prof. Akunyili has held several positions of responsibility in Nigeria as a professional in the course of her career. She served in six Senate Committees and various Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Committees of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1986 –1992.
From 1992 to 1994, Prof. Akunyili served as a member of Anambra
State Hospitals Management Board and State Advisory Council for Women
Commission. She has also served the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (P.S.N.)
in various capacities, notably as the National Vice President of Association of
Lady Pharmacists (1992-1995) and President of the Enugu State Branch from
1992-1998.
Internationally, as Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Akunyili
was appointed Chairman of West African Drug Regulatory Agencies Network
(WADRAN) in March 2006 and as Vice Chairman of the International Medical
Products Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (IMPACT) in November 2006.
She is a Post Doctorate Fellow of University of London, Fellow
of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists, Fellow of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and member of other learned societies,
a few of which are New York Academy of Science, International Narcotics Control
Board, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Expert Committee, Association for
African Medicinal Plant Standards (AAMPS), Global Alliance for Improved
Nutrition (GAIN), Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), and International
Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD).
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
For her industry and commitment to the values of honesty, transparency and selfless service, Prof. Akunyili has received over six hundred Awards and Recognitions locally and internationally, notably among which are: –
For her industry and commitment to the values of honesty, transparency and selfless service, Prof. Akunyili has received over six hundred Awards and Recognitions locally and internationally, notably among which are: –
Conferment with the National Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)
and Recognition as an Icon of Hope for Nigerians by President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo(2002); Person of the Year 2005
Award by Silverbird Communications (2006); Nigeria’s Five Greatest Living
Legends Award by Silverbird Group and Vanguard Media (Dec. 2009); Recognition
as Nigerian Woman of Distinction during the Nigeria @50 Independence
Anniversary Celebration (Sept. 2010); and as Minister of the Year 2010 by
Nigeria Royalty Award (Dec. 2010). Integrity Award by Transparency
International in South Korea (2003); Honoured as one of the 18 heroes (Health)
of our time by TIME Magazine, New York (2005); Grassroots Human Rights Campaigner
Award by Human Rights Defence Organization (International Service) in British
House of Commons (2005); Special Award for Combating Economic Crime by
International Chamber of Commerce-Commercial Crime Services London (2004);
Amazon of Integrity by National Council of Women Society (2004); Pharmacist of
the Year Medal Award by International Pharmaceutical Federation, FIP (2005);
Honourary Degree of Doctor of Laws by University of Bristol, London (2006);
Honorary Georgia Citizen by The State of Georgia, USA (2006); Agribusiness,
International Euro Market and Transbusiness Awards respectively for 2003, 2005
and 2006 by European Marketing Research Centre (EMRC), Brussels; Elected
Honourary Member of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Of Great Britain, London, by
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Of Great Britain, London (2008); Conferred
with the prestigious Harmony Tribute Award by Planet Africa Television Canada
(2010).
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