Governor Peter Obi confirms Dora Akunyili’s death

A former governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi, today confirmed the death
of Prof. Dora Akunyili, a former Minister of Information, in an Indian
hospital, on behalf of the Akunyili family.

Age 59, Akunyili, a former Director-General of National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control[NAFDAC], died after two years
battle with cancer.

She was born in Makurdi, Benue State on July 14, 1954 to Chief and Mrs
Paul Young Edemobi.

Akunyili attended the University of Nigeria, Nsuka, where she made
first class in pharmacy in 1978 and PhD in 1985.

The deceased was elevated to the rank of professor of Pharmacology in
October 2000 by UNN, where she taught for many years.

She was director-general of NAFDAC between April 2001 and 2008 and
Minister of Information and Communication between December 2008 and
December 2010.

She anchored the Re-branding Nigeria Project driven by the slogan,
Nigeria, Good People, Great Nation.

She served the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (P.S.N.) in various
capacities, notably as the National Vice-President of Association of
Lady Pharmacists from 1992 to 1995.

She was also President of the Enugu State Branch from 1992 to 1998 and
was appointed Chairman of West African Drug Regulatory Agencies
Network in March 2006.

Akunyili was also the Vice Chairman of the International Medical
Products Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force in November 2006.

She left government in 2010 to contest election for Anambra Central
Senatorial seat on the ticket of All Progressives Grand Alliance.