DORA AKUNYILI- A GREAT LADY

When I became a blogger eight years ago; the posts I hated putting up were the ones about the death of people I admired. Only a few days ago I put up a post about Maya Angelou; now I'm writing  about Professor  Dora Akunyili who died today in India after a 2 year battle with cancer. I had no idea she'd been ill so this came as a very huge shock to me.

When she was the Director General of  NAFDAC (National Agency For Food and Drug Control), this lady took her job seriously; curbing the distribution and selling of fake drugs and unsafe and unapproved products and making sure the people participating in such a trade were dealt with. She was motivated, according to an interview, because her late sister Vivian was a victim of fake drugs; she had died from unknowingly using fake insulin to treat her diabetes. Hence, even with threats on her life- she refused to back down on those who kept making and selling such stuff; not wanting more innocent people to die from fake medication or unsafe products in the market. 

 After her tenure ended, she was appointed the Minister of Information and Communications in 2008.  

This is a very sad day for Nigeria. Professor Akunyili cared so much about making a positive difference and she did in many ways. She was an intellectual, a true patriot, and a role model.  Professor Akunyili believed in so many things and she had a strong sense of duty and responsibility. 

There are so many things one can say about this wonderful woman who has passed on to the world beyond. Nigeria has lost a great woman and this is truly a very sad day for us. But we have to accept the merciful Will of God. 

Professor Akunyili was the epitome of Fortitude, Virtue and Selflessness and she will be sorely missed by all who loved and admired her. God rest her soul in eternal peace.

Goodbye, great lady.