Remembering Dora Akunyili: Her Legacy Still Inspires Many To Success

Before her death on June 7, 2014, Dora Akunyili received a total of 930 awards, the most awards ever received by any Nigerian living or dead. These awards were not merely empty recognitions; rather, they were a testament to her painstaking work as the then-NAFDAC DG.

Recognising Nigeria’s fake drug problem, Akunyili’s had a renewed determination to remove all fake drugs from the country and was fierce in ensuring that this problem was remedied, earning her the nickname “iron lady”.

Her painstaking efforts also translated to two assassination attempts in 2004. Asked if the danger she faced was worth it in an interview in 2007, she responded: “If I left, the drug counterfeiters would feel that they had won. It’s going to discourage all the staff working with me, it’s going to discourage any genuine person from taking up the job. And it’s also going to be even more dangerous for me.” Her determination to rid Nigeria of her fake drug problem was always resolute and it paid off as the fake drug market saw a 90% decline.

Her accolades include the Time Magazine Award, 2006; Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) of Nigeria; Award of Excellence; Integrated World Services (IWS), 2005; and many, many others.

Dora Akunyili is featured in Azuh Arinze’s Encounters – Lessons From My Journalism Career, which chronicles the experiences of the author throughout his career.

Through this book, Azuh Arinze allows readers to examine 20 years’ worth of journalistic experience in 60 captivating chapters, highlighting some of his encounters with industry heavyweights. Azuh Arinze, who is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of ‘Yes International!’ served as the Editor of Encomium Weekly from 2003 to 2011.