The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday held a special session in honour of the late Professor Dora Akunyili, Nigeria’s former Minister of Information and Director of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration And Control, NAFDAC, who died last Saturday in India after a two-year battle with cancer.
Members of the Federal Executive Council led by President Goodluck Jonathan took turns to eulogise the late Akunyili at the special session.
In his tribute, President Jonathan described the late Akunyili as a role model for modern day women.
The President who said the late minister was a woman of strength, added that he first met the deceased when he was Deputy Governor in Bayelsa State.
He added that Akunyili made more impact as the DG of NAFDAC than when she was a minister.
“A very upright woman. When she was Information Minister, she was a very courageous person. A role model par excellence that I believe so many young ladies should emulate.
“Her impact in NAFDAC was much more than as the Minister of Information. But her passion was unique. A virtuous woman. This is how God wants it.
“God saved her life from the deadly bullets of evil men. He could still have saved her life from cancer if He had so willed,” President Jonathan said.
In his tribute, Vice President Namadi Sambo, described Akunyili’s death as a great loss to Nigeria because of her patriotism and dedication to any assignment she was given.
He added that “NAFDAC is a sanitised institution, because of her.”
The VP also noted that as a minister, Akunyili developed a system through which the country would be re-branded.
“It is a sad time for us as we remember her. A woman of strength and conviction who fought hard to ensure drug counterfeiting becomes a thing of the past. NAFDAC was consistently voted as the best agency of government during her time. A committed mother and devoted wife. An excellent Nigerian woman whom many looked up to,” the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in her own tribute.
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