By Funsho Arogundade
Some departed this world and their memories went into oblivion. But for Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili, her memories and impacts, 10 years after her demise, still linger on. As the former Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and later as Minister of Information and Communications, the impact of her quality services has yet to fade in the heart of Nigerians. Her mantelpiece is loaded with almost 1000 plaques and certificates of awards, recognitions and honours from various organisations including a national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). Unarguably, the late Akunyili was a trailblazer. Her excellent performances placed the country, at that time, on a higher pedestal among the comity of nations.
Motivated by the loss of her own sister to fake insulin medication, late Akunyili sought to reform the health sector. In 2001, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Akunyili as the boss of NAFDAC. At the time of her appointment, she was confronted with a health system ridden with corruption. The result of all this corruption, mismanagement and neglect was a national health administration that could not ensure the safety of the people it was meant to protect. Akunyili was exposed to the dark side of the regulatory apparatus. She decided to take the problems head on which led to multiple assassination attempts, intimidation, harassment, and assault. Unperturbedly, she fought the fake drugs syndicates and initiated reforms that were responsible for saving countless lives. And the torrents of honours followed.
In 2005, the late Akunyili was named ‘Silverbird Person of the Year’. Twenty years after, the same organisation still considered the globally acclaimed pharmacist for a posthumous award alongside Prof. Tam David West, Chief Alex Akinyele and Alhaji Ahmed Joda at the 2025 Silverbird Man of the Year Awards. The audience went into deft silence as the video citation relayed the lives and times of these past heroes who had fallen in the service to humanity and Nigeria.
According to the organisers, late Akunyili is worthy of the recognition for the second time in different categories as they proudly celebrated her fearless legacy and transformative work in public health and national service, especially her relentless fight against counterfeit drugs and dedication to Nigeria’s progress.
Late Akunyili’s last son, Obumneme Akunyili —Director General, Anambra State Project Management and Monitoring Office (PMMO)— received the award on behalf of the family and later described his mother as a giant and an inspiration who built a shade for the youths of this country to live.