Press Release
Anambra State Chapter of Community Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (CONPAN) has expressed deep pain over the demise of the former Minister of Information and erstwhile Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Dora Akunyili whose death it said has created irreplaceable vacuum.
In a release by the Association, signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Benedict Adamaechi issued penultimate week following its council meeting, CONPAN described the death of Prof. Dora Akunyili as untimely and most embarrassing to the Igbo nation and Nigeria in general.
“Prof. Akunyili is a true amazon who gave her best to mankind especially during her tenure as Director-General of NAFDAC where she restored sanity and hope of families across the country. As a woman of immense courage and faith in God, Prof. Akunyili did not fail to speak her mind no matter the situation and had therefore gained the respect of her peers,” the statement said.
“Prof. Akunyili was a woman of great vision who has great hope for her nation hence she dazed the former President, late Shehu Yar’ Adua, who entrusted upon her the onus to re-brand Nigeria. She swooped on the project, employing her indomitable spirit and strong belief in the Nigerian talent to achieve the success which was the hallmark of the Re-brand Nigeria project.
“We regretted that, Prof Akunyili who worked to restore hope and life to a teeming number of humans became a victim of the medical sector for which she fought to restore sanity. She would be remembered as a devoted woman of faith, vision and courage, who devoted herself to a life of excellence and good of mankind,” the statement further said.
The Anambra State Chapter of Community Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria admonished the entire family of Akunyili, and the whole nation to take solace in the noble legacies Prof. Akunyili lived for and bequeathed to Nigeria, commending the indispensable role played by the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi throughout the period of Prof. Akunyili’s ailment. According to the statement, “Mr. Obi demonstrated characteristically good brotherliness and a demeanour of a true companion”.
The Anambra State Chapter of CONPAN implored all to join hands to give Professor Dora Akunyili a befitting burial “because she was undoubtedly one of our finest in the recent time.”, While hoping that the state and federal government would find a suitable way to immortalize her in appreciation of her immense contribution.
