By Abuchi Onwumelu
Awka
Awka South local council area has concluded arrangements to name a major street in the capital city after the late former Director General of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili.
With this development, the council authority will be the first to immortalize the Amazon who died last month in an Indian hospital of cancer related disease.
Following her death, there have been calls from several quarters on the federal and state governments to immortalize the icon for her efforts in riding the country of fake and substandard drugs during her days in NAFDAC.
Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Hon Azubuike Iloh, who disclosed this to our correspondent yesterday in the council headquarters after signing a condolence register in honour of Akunyili, said her death was a thing of sadness.
“People like Akunyili should not die, we feel sad because a woman like Dora should be here with us. She is an iconic figure, and here in our own little way we have decided that we will deify her. I have sent a bill to the legislature of this council for a major street in Awka to be named after her.
“We have pin-pointed Abakiliki Street to be named after her, and when they sit, I am sure we will pass that and we will implement it immediately. She is a dogged fighter and yet a mother, and can be described differently by different people, so we want her to live in our minds.” Iloh said.
