Professor Nkem Akunyili, former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC), and former minister of information has passed.
Akunyili, aged 59, died on Saturday in an Indian hospital where she was receiving treatment after her health depreciated few days into the commencement of the National Conference where she is a member.
Announcing her passing,Mr.Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state, said,“On behalf of the Akunyili’s family, I wish to officially confirm the death of Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Nkem Akunyili, OFR, in a Specialist Cancer Hospital in India this morning at 10 am, Nigerian Time, after a two-year battle with cancer.”
Dora Nkem Akunyili, born July 14, 1954 in Makurdi, Benue State, was also the Minister of Information and Communications in the country between December 17, 2008 and December 15, 2010.
Akunyili resigned her appointment as minister of information and 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 then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now All Progressives Congress (APC). She immediately sent a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission disputing the result.
Full text of Gov. Obi`s statement, titled “Prof.(Mrs.) Dora Akunyili is dead;” read:
“On behalf of the Akunyili’s family, I wish to officially confirm the death of Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Nkem Akunyili, OFR, in a Specialist Cancer Hospital in India this morning at 10 am, Nigerian Time, after a two-year battle with cancer.
In spite her illness, Prof. Akunyili was unwavering in her belief in a better Nigeria. That was why she defied her condition and was part of Anambra State Handover Committee and the National Conference.
The last time I visited her in India, even when she needed all the prayers herself, she was full of concern for the abducted Chibok girls, security and other challenges facing the country and told me that she remained prayerful for the release of those girls and for God to help President Goodluck Jonathan to overcome all the challenges facing the Nation. She therefore urged all Nigerians to remain prayerful and committed to building a better society for our children. We all prayed together and I promised to be visiting her every month.
We thank all those who remain fervent in prayers for her recovery and urge them to remain prayerful for the peaceful repose of her soul.”
Mr. Peter Obi, CON
Saturday, June 7, 201
