Dora Akunyili

Dora Nkem Akunyili OFR (14 July 1954 – 7 June 2014) was a distinguished Nigerian pharmacologist, academic, and public servant known for her resolute fight against fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria. She served as the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and later as the Federal Minister of Information and Communication.Early Life and Education Dora Nkem Akunyili was born on 14 July 1954, in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, to Chief and Mrs. Paul Young Edemobi. She attended St. Patrick's Primary School, Isuofia, Anambra State, graduating in 1966, and Queen of Rosary Secondary School, Nsukka, where she earned her West African School Certificate (WASC) with Grade I Distinction in 1973. She pursued her tertiary education at the University of Nigeria (U.N.N.), Nsukka, where she obtained her B. Pharm (Hons) degree in Pharmacy in 1978 and later a Ph.D. in ethnopharmacology in 1985.Career Progression and Achievements Akunyili began her career as a hospital pharmacist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (U.N.T.H) in Enugu State. She moved into academia in 1981, becoming a Graduate Assistant in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at U.N.N., rising to the position of Senior Lecturer in 1990 and later a Consultant Pharmacologist at the College of Medicine in 1996. In the mid-1990s, Akunyili also ventured into public service, serving on several State Government Boards and as Supervisory Councilor for Agriculture in a local government unit in Anambra State. In 1996, she was appointed Zonal Secretary of the Petroleum Special Trust Fund (P.T.F), coordinating projects funded by oil profits across Nigeria's South Eastern States.Director-General of NAFDAC Akunyili’s most notable public service role began in 2001 when President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed her as the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). During her tenure from 2001 to 2009, she spearheaded an aggressive campaign to eliminate counterfeit and substandard food and pharmaceutical products in Nigeria, a campaign that earned her widespread international recognition. Her efforts significantly reduced the prevalence of fake drugs, leading to improved public health outcomes in the country. Her commitment to this cause was so fierce that she survived an assassination attempt on her convoy on 26 December 2003, while traveling to Anambra State.Minister of Information and Communication In 2008, Akunyili was appointed the Federal Minister of Information and Communications, serving until December 2010. She was instrumental in advocating for the "Rebrand Nigeria" campaign during her time in office.Notable Works and Awards Akunyili was one of the most decorated Nigerians in history, receiving over 900 awards globally for her work in pharmacology, public health, and human rights. Among her numerous accolades was the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). In 2012, her book, *The War Against Counterfeit Medicine: My Story*, was published, detailing her experiences and battles at NAFDAC.Personal Life and Current Status Dora Akunyili was married to Chike Akunyili, and they had six children, including the notable visual artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby. Dora Akunyili died at the age of 59 on 7 June 2014, in India, following a two-year battle with uterine cancer. She was laid to rest in her hometown of Agulu, Anambra State, Nigeria.