Prof. Dora Akunyili The late former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, began her final home journey yesterday, with a cross section of Nigerians playing glowing tributes to her for her service to the nation and humanity. Among those who were at the night of tributes, which held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja were, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim. Others also included the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Paul Orhii. Also in attendance were, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Cardinal John Onaiyekan. Justice Mukhtar described the deceased, who will be buried in Enugu on Wednesday, as “very friendly and warm woman.” She added, “To say that Nigeria has lost a great future in Dora akunyili is an understatement. I pray the good Lord will condole her family and the nation and I pray the Lord God will rest her soul.” According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Anyim, who delivered a short tribute, said it was heartbroken to realise Dora, as the deceased was fondly called, was gone. On her part, Okonjo-Iweala, said with the impact of Akunyili’s service to the nation, “it means one person can make a great difference in whatever” one devouts oneself too. Soludo reiterated the family tie between him and the deceased, which he said spanned about 70 years. He said his wife was Akunyili’s neice. “It is difficult to think that Dora s gone,” he said in an emotion-laden voice. Maku, who earlier served under her as a Minister of State for Information, described Akunyili as a very courageous woman. “She will be long remembered for what she did and may this nation never forget her,” Maku said. Akunyili’s predecessor at NAFDAC, Paul Orhii, described Akunyili as “an uncommon breed.” He recalled several ocassions when he had to run to Akunyili for guidance when she faced difficulty after resuming duties as NAFDAC DG. “I think the fortunate thing for me was that I was not in the country when Dora Akunyili was transforming NAFDAC. Maybe I would have been too scared to accept the appointment,” he said. “She was a woman who was passionate to make life meaningful to all Nigerians,” Orhii added. President, Institute of Governance and Social Research, Jos, Prof. Isawa Eliagwu, who served as the head of the Akunyili’s ‘Rebranding Nigeria’ project, described the deceased as an amazon and a patriot, “who lit up the firmament and disappeared very quickly.” “It is not how long you live that is important but your contribution to your environment,” the don said.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 11:00:56 +0000