A prophet should be known at home and abroad, this was the tone as the Governor of Anambra State recognizes the strides made by Late Prof. Dora Akunyili.
The State government has renamed the prestigious Women Development Center, Awka, Anambra State after her as the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka as part of a well organised effort to immortalize the former Minister of Information and NAFDAC Director General, who fell to cancer last year.
The renaming of the Center came after a memorial mass that was attended by prominent citizens like former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, PDP Women Leader, Iyom Josephine Aneni, Chief Executive of the National Center for Women Development, Onyeka Onwenu, as well as key members of the Anambra State Executive Council.
Remembering the late Amazon in a brief speech titled, “Immortalizing Prof. Dora Akunyili,” Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, described her as a beloved sister, daughter, wife, mother, teacher, moralist, crusader, role model, merchant of hope and angel of light, pointing out that in gathering to immortalize her, Ndi Anambra were simply trying to remind themselves that “the greatest legacy a man or woman can leave is a good name. “Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here to affirm the wise saying of our elders that ezi afa ka ego – a good name is better than gold!”
The Governor further said that the life and times of the late fake drug czar should serve as a strong call to moral re-armament among Ndi Anambra.
Continuing, Obiano observed: “We finally begin to live when we choose to live in the service of the people; when our lives bring hope, happiness and fulfilment to people around us. Dora reminds us that a life of service to the community is the true life of meaning.”
Recalling some of the finest moments of Professor Akunyili on numerous national assignments, Governor Obiano said most Nigerians were familiar with Dora’s legend. “We are familiar with her courage in the face of extreme danger; her unwavering commitment to the cause she believed in even when a bullet peeled off her head gear, her passionate speech at the National Conference while she endured the biting pains of cancer and of course her blunt refusal to be cowed when the struggle for succession that followed the death of President Yar’Adua needed a rallying point.”
Recalling the late Amazon’s historic memo to her fellow ministers where she declared her readiness to pay the ultimate price in the struggle to return Nigeria to the path of certainty in the cloudy days that preceded the passage of former President Umar Yar’Adua, Governor Obiano maintained that Dora was willing to walk alone once she was convinced that she was walking in righteousness and in light.
“She has taught us that it is better to stand alone for righteousness than to enjoy the momentary satisfaction that comes from standing in the company of others.”
