The image shows a statue of Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili, one of Nigeria’s most respected pharmacists, public health advocates, and reformers. The monument stands in Agulu, Anambra State, her hometown, as a lasting tribute to her unwavering fight against counterfeit drugs and her legacy of integrity in public service.
Professor Dora Akunyili was born on July 14, 1954, in Makurdi, Benue State, but hailed from Agulu in Anambra. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Pharmacology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where she also earned her Ph.D. She began her career in academia, serving as a lecturer and later rising to become a senior lecturer at UNN.
Her national prominence began when she was appointed Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 2001, a role she held until 2008. During her tenure, Akunyili launched an aggressive and unprecedented campaign against the production and distribution of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria. Her fearless actions — including raids, public education campaigns, and policy reforms — saved countless lives and restored public confidence in Nigeria’s health sector.
Beyond her work at NAFDAC, she also served as Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communications from 2008 to 2010, where she promoted the “Rebranding Nigeria” project aimed at improving the nation’s global image. Her courage, honesty, and dedication to national service earned her numerous awards both locally and internationally, including the Integrity Award by Transparency International in 2003.
The statue in Agulu was commissioned by her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, as a tribute to her life of sacrifice, leadership, and moral strength. The sculpture, created by Sebastine Ugwuoke, captures her dignity and resilience — qualities that defined her public life.
Professor Dora Akunyili passed away on June 7, 2014, in India at the age of 59, after battling cancer. Her death was deeply mourned across Nigeria and beyond, as tributes poured in recognizing her as a woman who stood for truth and fought tirelessly for the good of her country.
Today, her statue in Agulu stands not only as a monument to her memory but also as a reminder of what courageous leadership and integrity can achieve in public service.
Sources:
Premium Times Nigeria: “Statue of Dora Akunyili Unveiled in Agulu” (2015)
NAFDAC Official Website: Biography of Professor Dora Akunyili
The Guardian Nigeria: “Remembering Dora Akunyili: A Legacy of Integrity and Reform” (2024)
Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji has fired off a sharp response after a man on X (formerly Twitter) advised Igbo men to stop marrying Igbo women and instead seek wives from other African countries.
The controversy began after a photo of a Rwandan woman said to be engaged to an Anambra man went viral.
Resharing the image, the user wrote, “Dear Igbo men, instead of marrying an Igbo woman who’ll falsely accuse you of r4ping your daughter, better look outside for a wife.
“Go to East Africa, especially Rwanda, and pick a damsel. They’re all over social media, and you can link up with them.”
Genevieve, who rarely comments on online drama, responded, “In other words, instead of checking yourself and taking accountability, go for the unsuspecting and carry on with your evil. Got it.”
Another user attempted to challenge her, claiming the original tweet was aimed at “false rape accusers” and that Genevieve was avoiding the real issue.
“His tweet was clearly against false rape accusers, but instead of holding the evil women accountable and demanding change, you chose to tweet this?”
But the actress hit back with equal clarity: “The same way a woman can’t tell an abusive man apart from a good one is the same way you shouldn’t say avoid all Igbo women. ‘Not all women’.”
Reality TV star Phyna has offered words of encouragement to fellow Big Brother Naija winner Imisi amid a family feud between the latter and her mother.
In an X post on Monday, Phyna wrote,”To Imisi, @imisiofficial and to anyone walking through the same fire… I’m praying for your strength.
“My own experience broke me, but I’m slowly rising.
“And I’m rooting for you with everything in me, don’t handle it like I did, build strong and focus on you baby girl.”
The post comes against the backdrop of a family dispute in which Imisi’s mother accused her daughter of hatred and revealed the poor condition of the home where she currently lives, despite Imisi winning N150 million after her Big Brother victory.
Imisi replied in Yoruba,”This is why Aunty Debola said you should not show your face to the world. I can’t be saying all that now, you are in the midst of people. Just overlook everything and leave social media.
“Don’t worry, I will send you money to rent a new house. I am tired of all this drama. I am still recovering from the stress of Big Brother.
“Should I be facing another stress now? Please forgive me, I am your daughter.”
Recall Imisi’s mother has publicly expressed frustration on social media, saying she does not need her daughter’s money after being sidelined following the win.
She also blamed Imisi for recounting her childhood experiences, which she claims involve untrue allegations of parental neglect and sexual assault.
In a video, she showed the old house she currently resides in, saying she is content with her situation, a revelation that sparked online controversy.
In 2023, after Phyna’s BBNaija win, her father, Felix Otabor, revealed in an interview that he was distressed by his daughter’s actions following her BBNaija win.
Otabor said Phyna had asked him to stop working as a hearse driver and requested that he sell his cars, promising to improve the family’s life.
He said he later struggled financially after selling the vehicles, losing his business momentum and community position, and has not seen his daughter since her victory.
He described feeling sidelined while she enjoyed her wealth.
Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has opened up about her marriage to her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.
It was reports that the embattled wife revealed why their seven-year relationship remained faithful despite his polygamous lifestyle.
In a reply to a comment on her Instagram page, Daniels said that during their years together, Nwoko never slept with other women outside their home because she held him well in the other room.
She wrote: “Yes i think he loved me but a toxic one! Because tell me why a polygamous man forgot what it meant to be in polygamy, except for the media.
“Just because it boosted his ego of being seen with multiple women which is easy by me because anyone that sees a man as an odogwu sees the wife as what? He basically had to beg that he share days at ours and other days with his other wives because they begged for his attention.
“Y’all should pls forget this yeye social media comparison because my ex man never slept outside one day in our 7 years of marriage. You know why? Because as a delta babe, I hold am well for the other room ladies use your skills that’s all men want actually!”
