Prominent Nigerians

 Full Name: Dora Nkem Akunyili
State of Origin: Anabra.
Ethnicity: Igbo.
Date of Birth: 14 July 1954   
Died: 7 June 2014 (aged 59) in India
Buried: August 28, 2014
Cause of Death: Cancer
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s): Dr J.C Akunyili
Parents: Chief and Mrs Paul Young Edemobi
Children: Ijeoma Akunyili, Edozie, Somto...
Residence: Abuja/Enugu, Nigeria
Language: Igbo and English
Religion: Christianity
Alma mater: University of Nigeria, Nsuka, University of London
Occupation: Pharmacist, Pharmacologist, Erudite Scholar and many others
Position(S): Director-General of the National Agency for food and drug Administration and control (NAFDAC) 2001-2008
Director-General of Federal Minister of Information and communication
Political party: People's Democratic Party (PDP); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
Website: http://www.doraakunyilionline.org/
Facebook: DORA AKUNYILI
Linked in: Prof.Dora Akunyili, Nigeria's former Minister of Information
Twitter: @Doraakunyili

INTRODUCTION
Dr Mrs Dora Nkem Akunyili was born in Makurdi in Benue satate (Nigeria) on July 14, 1954, by Chief and Mrs Paul Young Edemobi,  she is a native of Anambra, but she was brought up in Nanka and was married in Agulu, both in Anambra State of Nigeria.
Some of the things that she loves doing were reading, writing, cooking and travelling. She speaks and English and her native language Igbo fluently.She died in an India Hospital on June 7, 2014 after a long battle with Cancer at the age of 59 years. she was laid to rest in Agulu in Anambra State.

EDUCATION
She started her Primary education at St Patricks Primary Sch. Isuofa Nsukka. Her success 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.

 CAREER 
Akunyili started her working career as a Hospital Pharmacist from 1978 to 1981, in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, after which she ventured into academics as a Graduate Assistant (Research Fellow) in Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNN from 1982 to 1986. In the University system, she made a steady progress from Lecturer I in 1986 until she was made Senior Lecturer in 1990. She transferred to College of Medicine, UNN in 1992, where she was made a Consultant Pharmacologist in 1996, a position she held until 12 April 2001. Due to her love for teaching and nurturing young ones, she was also a part-time lecturer of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists Lagos, Nigeria from 1992–1995.

She also prepared herself for the administrative position at NAFDAC by her four years stretch as Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF), coordinating all projects in the five south-eastern states of Nigeria (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States). Recall that while serving at PTF under President Muhammadu Buhari, she took ill and was given a scary diagnosis in a medical facility in Nigeria which necessitated her going to the United Kingdom for treatment. The PTF gave her the medical expenses, but upon arriving in the UK, she was told that she was misdiagnosed and that she would be all right without treatment. Her exceptional virtues were evidenced when she returned to Nigeria and refunded the medical expenses to the agency. Impressive! In the history of Nigeria, no political office holder has done such neither has anyone broken her record? She indeed a powerful woman!
Following her appointment as the Director General of NAFDAC in April 2001, Akunyili established as a top priority the eradication of counterfeit drugs and unsafe food.Before her assumption of office in NAFDAC, fake and substandard foods and drugs were sold in Nigeria without any form of regulation. She was disheartened that "so many of (her) countrymen and women (were) fighting killer diseases like malaria and tuberculosis with little more than sugar syrup and chalk tablets, cynically packaged to look like the real thing.
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.
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.
Dora Akunyili contested for the Senatorial seat for Anambra central in Anambra State under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the April 2011 elections but was defeated by Chris Ngige of Action Congress of Nigeria. She thereafter sent a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission disputing the result.
Her virtues as a leader are worthy of emulation for every public office holder in Nigeria, Africa and the entire world. In some other parts of the world, People like her are put on stamps and on statues at different public places where the younger generations who were either too young to see her good works or the generation yet unborn as at that time, can visit to be encouraged to lead selfless lifestyles. She saved lives and she instituted a system that is still saving lives. Akuyili is a leader per excellence.

Prof. Dora Akunyili's Last Public Speech which she delivered at the National Conference in Abuja on March 24, 2014:
“Nigerians have for long clamoured for an opportunity such as this to discuss our problems and come up with solutions that will strengthen the bond of our nationhood. I regard this National Conference as President Jonathan’s best centenary gift to Nigerians, and a proof that he is a listening president.
“Mr. President’s speech oozes humility, modesty, patriotism and a deep concern for the present and future of this beautiful country, Nigeria. Mr. President in that speech admitted that sovereignty belongs to the people. And those in authority are only holding power on trust for the people and of course that nobody has monopoly of knowledge. Hence, the decision for convening this conference. One thing that stands out from Mr. President’s speech is that there is no trace of negativism.
“For instance, he made it clear that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable and our duty at this conference is to discuss ways to build a stronger and better Nigeria and I totally agree with him.
I am convinced that Nigeria should remain as one nation after 100 years despite her challenges because our common values overwhelm our differences.
“Apart from our long history of togetherness, we’ve also enjoyed many decades of inter-marriages and mutual co-existence. We have to make sure that this conference delivers on the true spirit of Mr. President’s speech.

“While we discuss the value of unity as written in his speech, we must realise that millions of Nigerians are being discriminated against in various parts of this country where they are born; where their forefathers lived; based on the so-called state of origin.

“The founding fathers of Nigeria had a dream of building a united, prosperous, and developed nation state where social justice reigns. We also have to continue to dream because once we stopped dreaming then life is gone.
“In conclusion, I am convinced that Nigeria will work and fulfil its destiny.
“I therefore look forward to collaborating with other delegates to chart the way for a better a new Nigeria. We all want to see a positive transform Nigeria and I therefore urge all of us to work individually and collectively so as to set the right agenda for the Nigeria of our dream.

“Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, I leave you with the words of these Greek proverb ‘A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.’ ”

Achievement and Recognitions
She was made a member of the following Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Committees (UNN), 1986–92:

• Medicinal Plant Committee
• Examination Committee
• Continuing Education Committee
• Publications and Colloquial Committee
• Committee on Specialization Courses for Pharmacists
• Consultancy Management Board.

LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
After her graduation from higher institution she married Dr J.C Akunyili in Agulu in Anambra and God blessed their union with Children Ijeoma, Edozie , Somto , Njideka Crosby, Chidiogo and Obumneme. They are all doing very well.

THE DAYS OF YOUTH:
Dora Nkem Akunyili was born in Makurdi in Benue satate (Nigeria) on July 14, 1954, by Chief and Mrs Paul Young Edemobi,  she was brought up in Nanka and was married in Agulu.
She started her Primary education at St Patricks Primary Sch. Isuofa Nsukka.
On her successful marriage and motherhood
She was successful with the help of God and the support of his lovely husband. She was blessed with six children and three grand children before she died.

INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT DORA NKEM AKUNYILI
She was a Genius, Lecturer An educator, Pharmacist, Disciplinarian and a Politician.

AWARDS, HONOURS, LAURELS AND RECOGNITIONS
Prof.Dora Nkem Akunyili has received over six hundred Awards and Recognitions locally and internationally, notably among which are:

• 'Heroes of our Time' by Time Magazine in New York, and the International Service Human Rights Award which she received at the House of Commons in London.
• 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);
• 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).