Dora Akunyili: Hallmark of service and distinction

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. Regrettably, she lost the battle to cancer, a battle she had fought relentlessly in the last 17 years through her meritorious stewardship as a public servant.

Her activist leadership in the public sphere caught both national and international attention, affecting our psyche so much that many begun to reason that with people like her, there was still a lot of hope in our nation and in the process clearing the negative perception that public servants are generally self-serving. Of course, her heroic deeds were to account for such passionate and emotional feelings of a huge loss among Nigerians when she eventually succumbed to death on Saturday, June 8, 2014. She was aged 59.

Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili (OFR) was an enigma whose death will continue to be remembered because of her uncommon legacy. She came, saw and conquered. By her personal example, Akunyili thought us how we can overcome the malaise of integrity at whatever level of leadership we find ourselves. She was a rare public officer who was very dedicated to duty and made indelible contributions to national development. She stood out in the crowd, etching her name in gold

From her first outing as the Zonal Secretary (South East) of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in 1998, the hallmark of integrity, honesty, excellence and decorum in public office had defined her. Interestingly, this humble beginning was to later recommend her for higher office. Her personal narrative of how former President Olusegun Obasanjo discovered her when he was looking for a decent professional to clean up the then waning and corrupt National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) remains a lesson in uprightness and she did not disappoint. She seized the illicit drug business in Nigeria by the collar and shook it. She battled headlong the evil of counterfeiting and substandard drugs and products.

She brooked no nonsense even when the perception was that the major offenders were from her ethnic stock; she fought them to a standstill and won the battle after eight years of sustained war. Under her as the Director-General of NAFDAC, the incidence of fake drugs dropped to below 20 per cent, saving lives. Akunyili’s performance was so remarkable that she won so many awards and garnered such high profile reputation as an incorruptible and efficient leader that she was appointed as Minister of Information and Communication in the Yar’Adua administration. She also left her mark of excellence, defying the odds to be different in the interest of the nation.

When she left the government and decided in April 2011 to run for office as a Senator , representing Anambra Central, in Anambra State, not a few believed she was pursuing a higher purpose which was to further serve the interests of the people. The clarity of her objective was never in doubt. Although she lost the election as announced by INEC, she only followed the path of law to register her complaints of alleged malpractices and took it in good faith. Politics to her was not a do-or-die affair and when the opportunity to have a worthy representation for her people at the Confab came her way, she made spirited efforts to be there for them as a delegate, even at the expense of her health. That was the extent of her devotion to duty, to ensure quality perspectives to the cause of national regeneration.

For us in Bayelsa State, the death of Professor Dora Akunyili was not only shocking and painful but a personal loss because of our close relationship on account of her major contribution to the establishment of the Drug Mart in Yenagoa. Governor Seriake Dickson had been disturbed by the increasing incidence of fake drugs in the localities and thus the arrangement to build the Drug Mart in partnership with the Dora Akunyili Foundation made sense and that was how the Drug Mart came into being. Today the edifice housing the mart is a telling story of the essential Akunyili as a caring and visionary leader.

The Drug Mart now makes it possible to have an orderly and conducive environment for the sale and distribution of drugs to the people under the supervision of professionals and indeed that the people can be sure at all times to have quality drugs to treat their ailments.  To her, this was a sure means to eradicate the prevalence of fake drugs. Regrettably, Akunyili’s idea to have this kind of facility in all the six geo-political zones has now been rested by the stroke of her untimely death. Yet her vision will outlive her.

For all those who had close encounters with her, the memory will keep coming back to appreciate a good natured woman, humble and affable. Her mien belied her fame, simple yet firm and had respect for every individual. Arguably, she was a role model and that is her very important legacy as a national figure who craved transparency, commitment to duty and all the essentials of decency in both private and public life. Her spirituality was also noticeable, believing in prayers as an adherent of the Christian faith.

Besides family values which helped to shape her being, Akunyili’s robust education was a factor, affording her such deep professional knowledge and distinction which paved the way for the various accomplishments through her work in pharmacology, public health and human rights. She was a senior lecturer and consultant pharmacologist in the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, before she became NAFDAC boss. Among several notable awards and recognitions, Akunyili won the Integrity Award 2003 by the Transparency International, Person of the Year 2005 awarded by Silverbird and won Time Magazine Award 2008 as one of the eighteen heroes of our time.

Even in death, the fond memory of Professor Dora Akunyili’s extra-ordinary life and contributions to national development will continue to be remembered because they are timeless in our consciousness as individuals and as a nation. Death, be not proud! Adieu, our dear Dora!

*Iworiso-Markson is the chief press secretary to the governor of Bayelsa State