The academia and some politicians on Saturday extolled the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, describing her as a courageous and brave woman, who excelled both in academics and politics.
Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, one-time Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, said Akunyili was as a courageous woman, who stood for the truth in spite of the consequences throughout her life time.
Akinyuli, who was Nigeria’s former Minister of Information and Director-General of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs, Adminstration and Control, died in the early hours of Saturday in an Indian hospital.
Alele-Williams told the News Agency of Nigeria that Nigeria had lost a great woman.
She said: “It is a bit mysterious that nobody told me the nature of her illness.
“Akunyili is a brave woman.
“She was brave enough to tell the truth when nobody was ready to do so during her tenure as the DG of NAFDAC.
“She showed that with adequate tools and right personnel in place, as demonstrated by her in NAFDAC, we were able to rid the country of fake and counterfeit drugs.
“She was able to ensure that drugs imported and the once made in Nigeria were standard and correctly prescribed.
“I hope that her legacy will be emulated not only by her children, but by women in Nigeria that whenever they are called to hold executive positions, they will give it their best.”
Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, the Chairman of Multi-Media Centre of the University of Lagos, also told NAN that Akunyili would be missed by the academia, the health sector and the country in general.
Akinfeleye said: “It is shocking.
“It is a pity that the country’s health sector is ill-equipped to treat and diagnose her ailment on time in spite of the resources injected into the health sector.
“It is very sad.
“It is a great calamity to the country regarding her excellent performance at NAFDAC.
“I urge her predecessor to sustain her good legacy in NAFDAC.”
The professor of mass communication urged the Federal Government to invest more in
preventive medicine to save the lives.
Also reacting to Akunyili’s death, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, described Akunyili’s death a sad loss to the nation.
Idris said she had contributed tremendously to the country’s growth during her tenure as the DG of NAFDAC, particularly in the fight against counterfeit and adulterated drugs.
He said: “It is a sad loss.
“She revolutionised NAFDAC and her legacy should be sustained by her predecessor.
“May her soul rest in peace.”
In her tribute, a Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Lagos, Prof. Ayoka Olusakin, described the demise of Akunyili as a very painful loss to the women folk and the country in general.
Nigeria, Olusakin said, had lost a great gem, noting that Akunyili laboured hard when she was a minister and the NAFDAC boss.
She said: “She was one of the best brains in the country.
“We do not have many women in politics.
“Akunyili represented the women of this country well both in government and as an administrator.
“She demonstrated dedication, passion, uprightness, faithfulness and patriotism to her
fatherland.
“Nigeria has lost a great woman.”
Alhaji Moshood Salvador, a South-West delegate at the ongoing National Conference, also expressed shock at the demise of the former minister.
Salvador said Akunyili contributed a lot to the growth and development of the country while she was alive.
She said: “Akunyili has done so much for her fatherland and she volunteered and surrendered her life to the service of the country.
“During her tenure as the NAFDAC boss, she was ready to go anywhere, the nooks and
crannies of the country, to rid the country of fake and counterfeit drugs.
“This was a battle she won.
“She was a great woman and must be remembered for all her contributions, not only today but always.”
For Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Akunyili was an uncommon patriot.
Ikuforiji, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Adebayo, also described
Akunyili as a courageous woman who put her life on the line for the general good of
Nigerians.
He said: “It is a monumental national tragedy for our nation to lose an uncommon patriot like Akunyili at this time when our nation is going through so much stress.
“Akunyili’s untimely death is one that Nigeria ought to be spared of by the Almighty God, were it possible.
“Her demise at this time when more patriotic and courageous citizens like her are needed to bail our nation out of her many woes is one that will leave a huge vacuum in the polity for a very long time to come.”
The lawmaker added that Akunyili was a highly courageous and patriotic citizen, who was ready to lay down her life for the eradication of fake drugs in Nigeria during her tenure as the DG of NAFDAC.
Ikuforiji added: “Nigerians will never forget Dora Akunyili for the most courageous manner she fought those behind the illicit sale of counterfeit drugs nationwide.
“Not once did she consider the ethnic background of those behind fake and counterfeit drug business in Nigeria.
“It is to her eternal credit for instance that Akunyili fought the battle with all her strength
throughout her tenure at NAFDAC.”
The speaker commiserated with the government and people of Anambra State and her entire family members on the demise of Akunyili.
Ikuforiji added: “On behalf of myself, family, and all my fellow legislators, the entire management and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly, we pray that the Almighty God would grant her soul eternal bliss.
“May God also grant all her dependants the fortitude to bear her painful and irreparable
loss.”
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