17/07/2024
Today we are celebrating Dr. Dora Akunyili (of loving memory) a renowned matron of change in a health system ridden with corruption.
Dr Dora Akuniyili was born in Markudi in the year 1954 on the 14th of July. She graduated from the University of Nigeria in 1978 with a degree in pharmacology and received her PhD in ethnopharmacology in 1985.
In 2001 she was appointed the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at a time when fake drugs were a menace to the Nigerian society, sold without any form of regulation. Despite several oppositions to Dr.Doraβs appointment, she was inducted as the First Female Director-General of NAFDAC.
Dr.Akunyili was driven with a passion to curb and regulate the sale of fake drugs in the Nigeran market. This passion was fueled by the pain she felt from losing her sister to a bogus insulin injection in 1988. Once she resumed office as the Director-General of NAFDAC in April 2001, Dr.Akunyili declared the eradication of counterfeit drugs and unsafe food a top priority and although she faced several harassments, assaults, intimidations, and attempted murder, Dr.Dora Akunyili stood her ground in her fight against counterfeit drugs and unsafe foods.
In March 2009, she was appointed the Federal Minister of Information. There she coined the phrase βGood People, Great Nationβ, which she said would help to promote patriotism among Nigerians. During a time of political instability in the country which was due to the ill health of the then-president, President Umar Musa YarβAdua. Dr Akunyili vocalized her loyalty to Nigeria as a nation. She was seen as a traitor for such a noble act yet once again, she was unmoved by several negative perceptions but stood for what she believed.
Dr.Akunyili died on 7th June 2014 at age 60. She was a wife, mother, and a pacesetter. She goes down in the annals of time as a great woman who fought for a better Nigeria.
During her lifetime, she was awarded over 950 awards of achievements and recognition from various organizations both nationally and internationally.