Dora Akunyili, 59, dies of cancer

Semiu Salami
Semiu Salami
Dora Akunyili

The former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, is dead. She was aged 59.

A family source confirmed that she died early Saturday morning in an Indian hospital where she had been receiving treatment for cancer-related ailments.

Akunyili is the third member of the ongoing National Conference inaugurated March 17, 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

A former Minister of Information and Communications between December 17, 2008 and December 17, 2010, the former NAFDAC boss has been in the hospital receiving treatment for about a month now.

Born on July 14, 1954 in Makurdi, Benue State, Dora Nkem Akunyili was a pharmacist and governmental administrator who has gained international recognition and won hundreds of awards for her work in pharmacology, public health and human rights.

Akunyili ran for election as Senator for Anambra Central on the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] platform in April 2011 but was defeated by Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

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