Former Minister, Information and Communications

Nigeria has produced a countable number of powerful women since the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates into what is today known as Nigeria, but not many have experienced first hand, the actions and fearless activities of a daring amazon in recent times as Dora Nkem Akunyili displayed at a time when Nigeria was at the precipice of national disintegration.

Born 14th July 1954, in Makurdi, Benue State, but brought up in Nanka in Anambra State of Nigeria.

Her illustrious educational career started at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Isuofia, Anambra State where she passed the First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction in 1966,after which she proceeded to the famous Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Nsukka, where she again obtained grade 1 distinction in the West African School Certificate examination in 1973.

On account of her exceptional results in the primary and secondary school leaving Certificates,  the Eastern Nigerian Government sponsored her secondary education while the Federal Government of Nigeria offered her Undergraduate Scholarship.

With a First Degree in Pharmacy B.Pharm (Hons) in 1978 and PhD in 1985 from U.N.N. Dr. Akunyili was a Post Doctorate Fellow of University of London and a Fellow of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists.

Prof. Akunyili’s unlimited intelligence attracted the attention of WHO/UNDP/World Bank who Sponsored, training on Senior Management skills Course in RIPA, London and Computer Education Programme in 1998 and 1994 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, then moved into academics as a Graduate Assistant (Research Fellow) in Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, U.N.N. from 1982–1986.

She became a Consultant Pharmacologist in 1996, a position she held until April 2001. Perhaps what defined and prepared Akunyili for national assignments was her four years stint as Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Special Trust Fund (P.T.F.), where she coordinated all projects in the five South Eastern States of Nigeria and showing an uncommon propensity to be dangerously transparent.

Dora will dutifully return any unspent budget, a rare practice in public service.

When Dora became the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), she took transparency to an enviable height difficult to match in Nigeria. She took the fight for the eradication of counterfeit drugs and unsafe food, to the door step of organized fake drugs importers. Dora Akunyili was undaunted at the risk of her personal safety in her fight to combat fake drugs, Dora came face to face with death several times, dared death in the face and came out victorious

Prof. (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.

As minister of information, Dora pioneered the reengineering of the nation’s battered image , she told the truth in government not minding the ethno religious implication, it is on record that but for her bold effort at telling Nigerians the state of affairs as it concerned the ailing Nigerian president, President Jonathan may never have been President today.

This daring and fearless amazon was internationally recognized and won several awards for her work in pharmacology, public service and human rights. Some of the awards include but not limited to the:

*Time Magazine Award 2006( “One of the eighteen heroes of our time”) by Time Magazine Inc.

*Person of the Year 2005 Award – Silverbird Communications Ltd

*Award of Excellence – Advocacy for Democracy Dividends Internationl, Lagos, 2005

*African Virtuous and Entrepreneurial Women Merit Award 2005 – African Biographical Network

*Award for the Best Government Parastatal – National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), 2005

*2005 Grassroots Human Rights Campaigner Award London Based Human Rights Defense Organization.  2005

*Integrity Award 2003 – Transparency International.

Akunyili was a devout Catholic and married to Dr. J.C. Akunyili, of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu and blessed with 6 children.

Dr Dora was a fighter, as she again defied death to answer a national call to serve as a member of the national conference for the restructuring of Nigeria. She made her contribution to the national discuss before she surrendered to the will of God in an India hospital on 7 June 2014 after a battle with Cancer.

For her dodgedness, gallantry, intellectual sagacity, and an unparalleled petroitism, Dr Dora Nkem Akuyili is today post humously presentedas amember of 2014 class of MMS and Woman of fortune Hall of Fame