The Women Development Centre, in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has been renamed; the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, in honour of the former Minister of Information and later Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and member of the National Conference, who died of cancer, June 7, 2014.
At an elaborate ceremony in the state capital, weekend, the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, explained that the move to rename the centre was geared towards immortalizing the late minister for her fight against fake and counterfeit drug proliferation in the country.
In a speech titled; ‘Immortalising Prof. Dora Akunyili’, Obiano described Dora Akunyili as ‘a beloved sister, daughter, wife, mother, teacher, moralist, crusader, role model, merchant of hope and angel of light,’ further pointing out that in gathering to immortalise 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 eziafaka ego – a good name is better than gold!’
Obiano noted that the life and times of Akunyili should serve as a strong call to moral re-armament among Ndi Anambra.
“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,” said the governor.
Continuing, Obiano recalled achievements of the late NAFDAC chief: “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.”
“Anambra State has built a psychological monument to her name. We lift her up as a beacon of hope to our people. We hold her up as a shining example to our youths and we celebrate her as the quintessence of virtue to our women! Surely, Umunwanyi Anambra cannot accept mediocrity again because Dora Akunyili lived among us. Truly, Umuada Anambra can no longer be restrained from dreaming big dreams because they walk in the footsteps of Dora Akunyili.”
The event gathered dignitaries such as Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President; Chief Victor Umeh, former National Chairman of APGA; Iyom Josephine Aneni, PDP Women Leader; Ms Onyeka Onwenu, CEO of the National Centre for Women Development, as well as the key members of the Anambra State Executive Council Members.
