Decades after her tenure as NAFDAC Director-General, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili remains the gold standard for integrity and fearless public service in Nigeria. Her son, Edozie Akunyili, has opened up about the devastating personal losses his family suffered, lamenting that his mother delayed critical healthcare due to her intense focus on NAFDAC work, which later turned cancerous.
Family questions worth of sacrifices
Edozie Akunyili, in a social media post, admitted that his family still struggles with the question of whether all the sacrifices were worth it. He wrote: "Exactly. Nobody has sacrificed more for Nigeria than our family and yet we constantly ask ourselves if it was worth it? We would give anything to have our parents with us, but Naija moves on with corruption and impunity from the top down seen as normalcy. Sadly, she died because she was so engrossed in her work for NAFDAC that she delayed her fibroid hysterectomy for years, which later was found to be cancerous."
Nigerians praise Dora Akunyili's legacy
Years after her death, Nigerians on X once again praised the former NAFDAC boss for her fearless fight against counterfeit drugs. Many say every sector of the country could use another public servant with Dora Akunyili's courage and commitment. One user, Imohunoren, wrote: "Since Dora Akunyili left us alone in this evil world, we've been eating and drinking fake products. That woman looked out for us for real. Top 5 Nigerians to ever exist." Another user, kelvin_ig, recalled one of the toughest moments during her time at NAFDAC: "I can never forget when her house and office in Lagos were burned down on the same day. Obasanjo asked if she wanted to resign. She said Obj should dead that talk and reinforce her security. Obj did, and she carried on. She's wild."
Personal cost of fighting fake drugs
Dora Akunyili served as NAFDAC Director-General from 2001 and became widely respected for taking on Nigeria's counterfeit drug industry. During her tenure, she shut down several open drug markets, pushed aggressive public awareness campaigns, and secured dozens of convictions against fake drug manufacturers and distributors. Her passion for the fight was deeply personal. In 1988, she lost her younger sister after she was administered fake insulin, an experience that shaped her determination to rid Nigeria of counterfeit medicines. Her campaign against fake drugs also came at a huge personal cost. She survived an assassination attempt in December 2003 after gunmen opened fire on her convoy while travelling to Anambra State. Despite repeated threats to her life, she refused to back down.
Public mourning and calls for justice
Reacting to the conversation, Morris_Monye also highlighted the sacrifices the Akunyili family made: "Till date, no justice for her family over her attempted murder and her family. Her husband was killed. No Justice till now. She gave absolutely all for Nigeria. Yet the land has a way of taking her own. This is why I choose battles carefully. If you lose your life, Nigeria moves on."
Dora Akunyili's enduring impact
After leaving NAFDAC, Akunyili was appointed Minister of Information and Communications before contesting for a Senate seat in 2011. She died on June 7, 2014, after battling cancer. Years after her passing, many Nigerians still point to her as an example of integrity in public service, with many saying the country desperately needs more leaders willing to put the public first.
