A Dozen Years On: Dora Akunyili's Family Honors Her Legacy of Truth and Principle

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The children of late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Former Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has described their mother as a lioness that put passion and history into her work to serve Nigerians to the very last breath while in office.

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This statement was jointly issued in a chat by the children in commemoration of her 12th memorial anniversary.

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According to them: “She showed kindness and generosity to everyone whether great or small. She served people with humility and diligence. Even as busy as she was, she attended to everyone that came to her for help. She responded to every single text message that came to her phone and left no stone unturned. When people came to visit her in her office to seek employment, she would help them as much as she could. Even if she was not able to, she would give the person transport money for their journey.”

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They added that their mum treated time as something to be cherished and something finite. She never procrastinated. Every task was treated with urgency and goals were not put off for later.

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“Our mum is a devout Catholic, funny, a loving mother to all everyone, including her staff who all called her “Mummy”. She can instantly fill up a room with the energy and joy she exudes. We fondly remember the joyful part of her that had a nickname for everyone set to a catchy melody or joyful chant like: Jukujackson! Donkwelinkwe! Solu nwa solu nwa moo, Njideka kachasị ife niine dị n’ụwa, ifeniine! Chikito! Bums!

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“Nigeria like all countries has its problems, even the United States with its reputation has its problems as well. Nigeria is a work in progress and for Nigerians to get the Nigeria we all dream of, we all have to be Dora’s in our everyday lives from the regular citizens up to the leadership. As we always say, if this country has 10 Dora’s in leadership, this country will change for good. We feel that there are more Nigerians that are like Dora and they need to show that more in their everyday lives. In the way they handle themselves with integrity and how they discharge their duties with commitment, transparency and accountability,” the children urged.

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They however said that they would remember their late mum as a Nigerian with integrity and for her doggedness, with track records that put Nigeria on the world map for doing the right thing while at the helm of affairs. We would also remember her for honesty, integrity and delivering service to the people of Nigeria, which were her life works and we are proud that she achieved them.

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It could be recall that Professor Dora Akunyili died on June 7, at the age of 59 in a specialist cancer hospital in India, following a two-years battle with uterine cancer.

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