Dora Nkem Akunyili 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 hundreds of awards for her work in
pharmacology, public health and human rights. Continue after the cut...
Akunyili ran for election as
Senator for Anambra Central on the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)
platform in April 2011 but was defeated by Chris Ngige of the Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN). She immediately sent a petition to the Independent National
Electoral Commission disputing the result. 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.”
Dr. (Mrs.) Dora Nkem Akunyili,
who assumed office on the 12th of 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 (Nigeria) on the 14th of July 1954 to Chief & Mrs Paul Young
Edemobi, 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 the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (U.N.N). 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 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 Senior Management skills
Course in RIPA, London and Computer Education Programme by WHO/UNDP/World Bank
Sponsored, Enugu in 1998 and 1994 respectively. Dr. Akunyili has enjoyed many
academic awards and recognitions.
Dr. 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 and She was promoted to the rank of Professor of Pharmacology in
October, 2000 by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Dr. Mrs. Dora 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.), coordinating 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, Dr. 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
has presented over 600 papers delivered in various Local and International
Conferences, published 4 books and written 18 Journal Articles published in 37
local and international journals. 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.
Prof. Akunyili has held several
positions of responsibility in Nigeria as a professional in the course of her
career. She served in six Senate Committees and various Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences Committees of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from
1986 –1992.
From 1992 to 1994, Prof. Akunyili
served as a member of Anambra State Hospitals Management Board and State
Advisory Council for Women Commission. She has also served the Pharmaceutical
Society of Nigeria (P.S.N.) in various capacities, notably as the National Vice
President of Association of Lady Pharmacists (1992-1995) and President of the
Enugu State Branch from 1992-1998.
Internationally, as Director
General of NAFDAC, Prof. Akunyili was appointed Chairman of West African Drug
Regulatory Agencies Network (WADRAN) in March 2006 and as Vice Chairman of the
International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (IMPACT) in
November 2006.
She is a Post Doctorate Fellow of
University of London, Fellow of the West African Post Graduate College of
Pharmacists, Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and member
of other learned societies, a few of which are New York Academy of Science,
International Narcotics Control Board, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Expert
Committee, Association for African Medicinal Plant Standards (AAMPS), Global
Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV),
and International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD).
For her industry and commitment
to the values of honesty, transparency and selfless service, Prof. Akunyili has
received over six hundred Awards and Recognitions locally and internationally,
notably among which are: –
- 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)
- Award of Excellence by Integrated World Services (IWS), Dec. 2005
- Award of Excellence by Advocacy for Democracy Dividends International, Lagos, 17-12-2005
- Meritorious Award 2005 by St. Michael’s Military Catholic Church, Apapa, Lagos, 04-12-2005
- African Virtuous and Entrepreneurial Women Merit Award 2005 by African Biographical Network, Dec. 2005
- Award for the Best Government Parastatal by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), December 2005
- An Icon of Excellence Award by The African Cultural Institute and Zenith Bank Plc,[6] 08-12-2005
- Most Innovative Director Award Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos. Oct. 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)
- Harmony Tribute Award by Planet Africa Television Canada (2010).
She died in an India hospital on
the 7th of June, 2014 after a battle with Cancer. She was a devout Catholic and
was happily married to Dr. J.C. Akunyili, a Medical Practitioner of the
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu till her death. They are had six children and three
grandchildren together. Her hobbies include reading, writing, cooking and
travelling. She speaks Igbo and English fluently.
Great Lioness, your “ROARS” will
always remain with us and we promise to continue from the foundation you’ve
left behind. Rest In Peace Lioness as you remain a Legend of the Den.
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