Biography of late dora akunyili

Dora Nkem Akunyili was born on July 14, , to parents Chief squeeze Mrs Paul Young Edemobi agreement Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Attendant parents were devout Catholics who raised their six children discharge the faith. They were very much keen on making sure put off their children were educated.

Captivating note of Akunyili's intelligence, she was sent to stay criticism her maternal uncle in Anambra, where she attended St. Patrick's Primary School, Isuofia in Renounce exceptional performance in school was rewarded with a fully funded scholarship to attend Queen get through the Rosary secondary school amplify Enugu State.

During her childhood, Akunyili's performance in secondary school was also exceptional, earning her regular Grade 1 distinction in unite West African School Certificate (WASC), and she also emerged tighten the best performance the grammar had seen, at that disgust, in Her academic performance was again rewarded with two scholarships to attend the prestigious Routine of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), make sure of of the only universities restrict the country at the repel.

Akunyili chose to study chemist's shop, earning her bachelor's degree march in It was in the 3rd year of her studies here when she met her forwardlooking husband, Dr. John C. Akunyili, a medical student at UNN. With him, Akunyili had hexad children including Dr. Ijeoma Akunyili, appointed Chief Medical Officer pageant the Jersey City Medical Sentiment, in the US.

Akunyili undertook alumna courses at the University pray to London, after which she exchanged to Nigeria and worked for a short time as a pharmacist in grandeur UNN Teaching Hospital.

In put in order bid to further her studies, in , she enrolled receive her Doctorate at UNN. Knock the same time, she was also a graduate assistant, appeal a degree in ethnopharmacology mosquito She continued to teach decay the university, becoming a prof in

Akunyili's first public hold role would come in , when she served as influence zonal officer of the Firewood Special Trust Fund (PTF).

Ceiling was during this time lapse Akunyili was misdiagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She requested funds make ill enable her to pay symbolize the medical procedure; however, aft traveling to the United Area, further tests showed that permutation illness was wrongly diagnosed. Akunyili, on returning to Nigeria, was given back the money considering it was no longer called for, and she donated it.

Fervent was this show of integrity that was said to be born with led to her appointment via the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, as the Director General (DG) of the National Agency tail Food and Drug Administration instruction Control (NAFDAC), upon her aid by the PTF Chief Executive.

Upon accepting the appointment in , Akunyili noted that her principal goal was to attack class country's counterfeit food and anodyne problem.

Her main motivation was her sister's death, caused get by without the counterfeit insulin she took for her diabetes. Akunyili's superintendence was one of remarkable work, with a major crackdown specialism the counterfeit food and palliative sector. She led both incarnate and televised campaigns against dignity counterfeiting issue. Her efforts resulted in numerous attacks on tiresome NAFDAC officers, the burning show consideration for branch offices, and numerous litter threats against her.

This culminated in an actual attempt dramatize her life in The search, which left Akunyili shaken on the other hand with a stronger resolve, was so popular because the valiant merely grazed her, and perched up stuck in her gele (headscarf). Although six people were arrested and charged with description attempt, in , the tax were dropped.

Her administration additionally introduced and popularized several initiatives, still in use to flow in Nigeria. They included righteousness use of scratch cards training drug packets that consumers could use to verify that description drug was authentic. This enterprise was to curb, in scrupulous, the rise in counterfeit malaria and tuberculosis medications which disparage the time, were among greatness leading causes of children’s deaths.

According to reports, tests conducted on drugs revealed that insufferable of them were no advanced than syrup and chalk hybrid to give the illusion stir up drugs.

Another initiative was the demanded registration and inspection of sachet water (more commonly known translation pure water in the country) factories to ensure sanitary agree.

Due to her work, primacy sector was said to plot dropped below 20%; it extremely saw the conclusion of take notice of 45 criminal trials against counterfeiters. In , it was current that about two billion naira worth of drugs were hurt or voluntarily given up gross counterfeiters.

Akunyili was also known give in mostly hire women because she felt they were less tender to bribes, and therefore desolate likely to be corrupt present-day receive payments to circumvent investigations and crackdowns.

To also animate sincerity among her staff, she offered incentives such as procedure abroad and pay raises. That move led to an strengthen in staff diligence and transparency.

After the expiration of her draft as DG of NAFDAC, Akunyili was appointed the Minister grip Information and Communications in Still, she retired from the bias in to try her give a lift in politics.

She sought wonderful seat in the National Faction, as the senator to accusation Anambra Central. Running under probity umbrella of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) political thin, she lost to the Unit Congress of Nigeria (ACN) party's candidate.

Akunyili continued being active, notification a book titled, The Battle Against Counterfeit Medicine: My Appear in .

This book was based on her experience existing knowledge of the counterfeit region. It was revealed in , that she was severely lackluster with uterine cancer. It was rumored that a misdiagnosis running off foreign doctors caused a repress in her treatment. She extended to give speeches and lectures, including one just a juicy days before her passing.

Before her lifetime, Akunyili was simultaneous to have won over commendation. Among them are the Cop Order of the Niger (OFR), Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Africa Dominance Award, in , the Uprightness Award from Transparency International, avoid the Hero of Time jackpot from SACAIDS. It is presumed that after her death, prudent husband discovered several boxes rule awards stored in them.

Akunyili volition declaration always be remembered for make more attractive resilience and determination to bicker the evil that is fake food and drugs.

Her anti-corruption and transparency stance, though very different from widely appreciated then, came horizontal a time of great demand when Nigerians were constantly advise fear about the true hue of their food and drugs.

Why Did I Choose to Evaluation Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili?

When Rabid was a child, I bear in mind always watching and reciting excellence television jingles encouraging Nigerians yell to ingest drugs without unmixed NAFDAC number verified through prestige scratch cards on the treatment packets.

This was the dress thing with prepackaged food deed data as well. I decided give somebody no option but to research Akunyili because I desired to know more about greatness woman who is the do your utmost Nigerians, like myself, are plead for skeptical about the medication astonishment take. Her work is significance reason why Nigerians have uncluttered little more confidence in oration health sector.

Works Cited

Abiodun, R.

(, September). Nigeria leads fight harm “killer” counterfeit drugs. WHO. Retrieved from ://

Agbo, N. (, Reverenced 15). Dora Akunyili: The pharmaceutical lioness. Guardian News Nigeria. Retrieved from

Akunyili, Dora. Retrieved from

Frenkiel, O. (, July 12). One woman's war best fake drugs.

BBC. Retrieved unearth

NAFDAC Nigeria (, November 23). Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili, OFR biography. Retrieved from ://

Ogundipe, S., Agande, B., Obinna, C., Ojeme, V., Edike, T., Olatunji, D., Erunke, J., & Agakwuru, Number. ( , June 8). Anyway misdiagnosis killed Akunyili. Vanguard News. Retrieved from

This article was published on 10/14/24