Dora Akunyili 1year remembrance.

Dora Nkem Akunyili (14 July 1954 – 7 June 2014) was the Director General of
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of
Nigeria and Nigerian Minister of Information and Communications from 2008
to 2010. She was a pharmacist and governmental administrator who gained
international recognition and won several awards for her work in
pharmacology, public health and human rights.

Akunyili ran for election as Senator for Anambra Central for the APGA in April
2011 but was defeated by Chris Ngige of the ACN . She immediately sent a
petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission disputing the result.
She died in an India hospital on 7 June 2014 after a battle with Cancer.

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." Although Akunyili faced considerable risk to her personal safety
in her fight to combat the issue of fake drugs, "She [has been] dancing with
danger. And she [has been collecting] very visibly awards all over the world
appearing with whomever has a smile to share."

Professor (Mrs.) Dora Nkem Akunyili, who assumed office on 12 April 2001, as
the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC), is a Pharmacist, Pharmacologist, Erudite Scholar, Seasoned
Administrator, and a visionary leader. She was a Senior Lecturer and
Consultant Pharmacologist in the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka (U.N.N.), Enugu Campus, before she became the NAFDAC boss.
She was born in born in Makurdi, Benue State , but brought up in Nanka and
was married in Agulu, both in Anambra State of Nigeria. Dr. Akunyili's
educational career started with her passing the First School Leaving Certificate
with Distinction at St. Patrick's Primary School, Isuofia, Anambra State in
1966, and the West African School Certificate (W.A.S.C.) with Grade I
Distinction in 1973 from Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Nsukka, both
in Nigeria.

These exceptional results in the First School Leaving Certificate, and W.A.S.C.
earned her the Eastern Nigerian Government Post Primary Scholarship and the
Federal Government of Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarship. She got her First
Degree in Pharmacy B.Pharm (Hons) in 1978 and her PhD in 1985 from U.N.N.
Professor Akunyili was a Post Doctorate Fellow of University of London and a
Fellow of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists. To prepare
her for Managerial positions, she was trained on Computer Education
Programme by WHO/UNDP/World Bank Sponsored and Senior Management
skills Course in RIPA, London, in 1994 and 1998 respectively. Akunyili has
enjoyed many academic awards and recognitions.

Akunyili started her working career as a Hospital Pharmacist from 1978–1981,
in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (U.N.T.H) Enugu, after which
she ventured into academics as a Graduate Assistant (Research Fellow) in
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, U.N.N. from 1982–1986. 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, U.N.N.
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.

Akunyili was also prepared for her administrative position at NAFDAC by her
four years stint as Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Special Trust Fund (P.T.F.),
co-ordinating all projects in the five South Eastern States of Nigeria (Abia,
Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States).

She also served as a Supervisor for Agriculture and Member of the Caretaker
Committee for her Local Government, Anaocha Local Government Area of
Anambra State from 1994 to 1996. From 1992 to 1994, Akunyili served as a
member of State's Hospitals Management Board and State Advisory Council
for Women Commission both in Anambra State of Nigeria.

As a Scientist and a Scholar, she presented over 20 research papers in various
local and International Scientific Conferences, and published a book and 18
Journal Articles. She supervised PhD and Masters candidates in Nnamdi
Azikiwe University Awka and U.N.N. respectively both in Nigeria. Even as the
Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Akunyili found time to supervise six
Postgraduate students in the College of Medicine U.N.N. She was also Chief
Examiner in Pharmacology for 3rd M.B.B.S College of Medicine, Abia State
University Uturu, Nigeria.

Akunyili was also a very active member of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Nigeria (P.S.N.) where she served in the following capacities:
P.S.N. Education Committee as Secretary from 1994–2000
Organizing Committee for Enugu State P.S.N. Annual Conference as
Secretary 1995
Nigerian Association of Academic Pharmacists as National Asst. Sec. from
1990–1994
Association of Lady Pharmacists as National Vice-President from 1992–
1995, National Ex Officio Member 1995–2000 and President of Enugu State
branch from 1992–1998.

She was also a member of other learned societies among which are Nigerian
Society for Pharmacology, West African Society for Pharmacology, International
Union of Pharmacology and International Pharmaceutical Federation.

Akunyili held positions of responsibility in University of Nigeria Nsukka Senate
in the following capacities:
Senate Careers Board Committee – Member 1986–1993
Board of Institute for Development Studies-Member 1986 – 1993
Senate Representative for Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences 1990 – 1992
Staff Welfare Committee for Academic Staff Union of Universities , Nigeria –
Member 1991 – 1993
Investigation Committee on Alleged Examination Malpractice in Drama 202
Re: Ugwuja C., 86/49917 of Sub-Department Dramatic Arts, U.N.N. –
Secretary 1991–1992.
Akunyili’s high sense of responsibility led to her being made a member of the
following Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Committees (U.N.N.) from
1986–1992:
Medicinal Plant Committee
Examination Committee
Continuing Education Committee
Publications and Colloquial Committee
Committee on Specialization Courses for Pharmacists
Consultancy Management Board.

Akunyili was a devout Catholic and was married to Dr. J.C. Akunyili, of the
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu till her death. They had 6
children together.

Her hobbies included reading and writing.Her funeral which took place on the
27th and 28th August was attended by many dignitries from with Nigeria and
beyond including President Goodluck Jonathan and a former Nigerian military
ruler General Yakubu Gowon.

Akunyili was laid to rest at Agulu in Anambra state.

Awards received
Some of the awards Prof. Akunyili received in her lifetime were:
Time Magazine Award 2006( "One of the eighteen heroes of our time")-
Time Magazine Inc.
Person of the Year 2005 Award – Silverbird Communications Ltd , Lagos, 5
January 2006
Award of Excellence – Integrated World Services (IWS), Dec. 2005
Award of Excellence – Advocacy for Democracy Dividends International,
Lagos, 17 December 2005
Meritorious Award 2005 – St. Michael's Military Catholic Church, Apapa,
Lagos , 4 December 2005
African Virtuous and Entrepreneurial Women Merit Award 2005 – African
Biographical Network, Dec. 2005
Award for the Best Government Parastatal – National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS), December 2005
An Icon of Excellence Award – The African Cultural Institute and Zenith
Bank Plc, 

 8 December 2005
2005 Grassroots Human Rights Campaigner Award London Based Human
Rights Defense Organization. 8 December 2005
Most Innovative Director Award Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos.
Oct. 2005.
Integrity Award 2003 – Transparency International.