Dora Akunyili, Stella Adadevoh, Kefee Momoh… the 10 most painful deaths of 2014

Death, as it is popularly said, is the inevitable end. But when it occurs, there are always people who wish it was avoidable. In the end, the number of people who so wish is usually determined by the deceased’s extent of positive impact while alive. There have been a few such deaths in 2014.

But, in addition, there were deaths that no one didn’t need to wish were avoidable – because they were simply avoidable; they had no business happening. Here are 10 of them.

1. DORA AKUNYILI, THE AMAZON

“Her dogged appearance at the recent national conference in spite of her health challenges exemplified her essence as a true patriot. She was determined to add her voice to the national conversation on how best we could possibly create a new Nigeria where we can all live together in peace, harmony and prosperity.”

Those were the opening lines of a tribute written for a woman of substance, whom Nigeria lost to 2014.

Nigeria will never forget Dora Nkem Akunyili (OFR), its former minister of information and ex-director-general (DG) of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) – neither will the fake drug peddlers whom she fought with all her might during her time at the helm of NAFDAC.

One of the most tragic events of the year was Akunyili’s loss of her 17-year battle with uterine cancer. That was on June 7, 2014.