Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, rekindled
the memory of the late amazon. Ekwunife represents Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia
Constituency of Anambra State.
The life and times of former Minister of Information and Communication,
Prof. Dora Akunyili, who died last month resonated in the House of
Representatives last week.
In a motion that was unanimously endorsed , the All Progressives Grand
Alliance lawmaker, described Akunyili, as a patriot, who gave her all to the
nation and humanity and called for her immortalisation .
The motion read: “The House notes that the late Prof. Dora Nkem
Akunyili transited to glory on June 7, 2014 after a battle with cancer.
“Also notes that Prof. Akunyili, an internationally renowned
pharmacist, pharmacologist, erudite scholar, administrator and V
Visionary leader, was the zonal secretary of the defunct Petroleum
Special Trust Fund (PTF) between 1997 and 2000 where she coordinated all
projects in the South Eastern states;
“Recalls that Prof. Akunyili was recommended to the then President
Olusegun Obasanjo, who was looking for an honest Nigerian to steer the affairs
of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
at a time Nigeria was plagued by the menace of adulterated, fake and
substandard drugs and unwholesome food products.”
Ekwunife also recalled that the uncommon zeal, drive and determination
which Prof. Akunyili brought to NAFDAC as its Director-General between 2001 and
2008, which transformed the agency almost overnight from anonymity to
unarguably the most recognisable government agency, and in the process, earned
worldwide acclaim for both the agency and the country in the fight against fake
drugs and unwholesome food products;
“Further recalls that Prof. Akunyili waged the war against fake drugs
relentlessly and at a great threat to her life, while allowing her patriotic
spirit to come to the fore despite people from her South East geo-political
zone being key players in the importation and distribution of the fake drugs
and unwholesome food products;
“Aware that in deference to her strength of character and sterling
contributions in the fight to rid the country of fake drugs, governments and
organisations across the world recognised her feats and showered her with
encomiums, accolades and honours, which in the process, rubbed off positively
on the nation by putting Nigeria on the limelight of global attention any time
she went to receive any of the numerous awards in pharmacology, public health
and human rights;
“Also aware that her stint as the Hon. Minister of Information and
Communications between 2008 and 2010 where she, again excelled, particularly in
anchoring the “Re-branding Nigeria Project” which was driven by the slogan
“Nigeria, Good People, Great Nation”, has remained a national reference point.”
She prayed the chamber to observe “ a minute silence in honour of the
late Prof. Akunyili.
Apart from that, she requested the chamber to “send a delegation to
represent the House at her funeral. She urged the executive arm of
government to name the headquarters of NAFDAC as “PROF. DORA NKEM AKUNYILI
HOUSE” in her honour.
No comments:
Post a Comment