Abdullahi M Gulloma
A Nigerian proverb says no amount of hair a woman grows can transform her into a man.
In physical terms, yes! No amount of hair a woman grows can transform her into a man by rebuilding her with all the required macho anatomy and physiology.
In spiritual terms, no! There is a broad range of glitches in this rather male-chauvinistic proverb, considering the proven fact that what a man can do, a woman can also do and, sometimes, even better.
When one considers the performance of notable women in history with regard to the conduct of human affairs at the various levels of the human society, which have endowed their personalities with prodigious fame and honour, and beautifully etch their personalities on the stone of history, some women can, indeed, grow the required amount of hair to transform them into men in terms of all the capabilities and competences normally, albeit rather faultily, arrogated by the men folk.
The late Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili, had the rare opportunity of being one of such women. The renowned pharmacist and drug-war Amazon did not just grow the required quantity of hair to transform her into a man in terms of capabilities and competence, she grew spectacularly thick hair to endow her with the rare macho bravado to tread paths even dreaded by most men, and arrive unscathed, physically or spiritually.
In her resolve to etch her capabilities and competences on the stone of Nigeria’s and, to a considerable extent, the global history, she seemed to have staunchly subscribed to, and been unfalteringly guided by, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s saying: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
As, first, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), then the Minister of Information and Communications and, just before her death, a member of the ongoing National Conference, she did not go where the path led, she went instead where there was no path and left a trail with unparalleled accomplishments and novel programmes for the rebirth and prosperity of her dear country, Nigeria in the fashion of a genuine patriot.
Professor Akunyili died of cancer on Friday, June 6, 2014 in an Indian hospital.
Testimonies by fellow and, as a rare opportunity, by the human society one served before his or her death are a modicum of his or her fame or infamy in life.
The news of her death raged across the country with citizens eulogising her valiant capabilities in her highly victorious war against the drug barons, and her competences in the implementation of Rebranding- Nigeria project aimed at laundering the image of the country before the global community.
Her Rebranding-Nigeria project with the popular slogan “Good people, great nation” seemed organically linked with her drug war as NAFDAC DG, in which capacity she discovered that the image of the country had been frighteningly aped by the drug trade, a situation that was already beginning to have rippling adverse effects on all the vital facets of the country’s life.
Akunyili was endowed with a rare honour on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 when the Federal Executive council (FEC) devoted its entire weekly session with not only the members delivering their individual beautiful testimonies but the entire FEC collectively extolling her enviable accomplishments and uncommon commitment to public service which she exhibited to the point of death. She was very pale with killer-ailment, yet she participated in the confab to the fascination of all.
President Goodluck Jonathan heralded the wholly-encomia session with his own testimony. The president described the late iron lady of unparalleled drug-war valour as “a virtuous woman who is not easy to come by,” and recalling her memorable service as a member of the Council a few years ago, he said with grief-laden voice, adding that: “She is not with us but I believe this is how God wanted it. He saved her life from the (assassin’s) bullet. If He didn’t want it (her death), He could have saved her life from the sting of sickness.”
In his turn, the Vice President Muhammadu Namadi Sambo described her death as a great loss to her family and the entire country, recalling: “She developed a system to rebrand this country as Minister of Information. She ensured that the issue of fake drug in Nigeria was addressed.”
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim described her as a true nationalist and reformer, and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, extolled her enviable dedication to public service, which, he said, made it possible for NAFDAC to top the list of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in terms of providing world class service to Nigerians.
The Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, took her turn. She recalled how Professor Akunyili administered NAFDAC to the point of the agency being consistently voted as the best government agency due to her diligence, and remarked that she “spoke and worked with passion.”
The Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku was more extensive in his testimony on his erstwhile boss: “She was an exceedingly beautiful woman and her disposition made her a role model. It is a credit to her that even at the stage she was, she was still willing to serve the country. She served Nigeria until death. Such was her commitment to our country, such was her patriotism. Her values will not go down with her. She has left a lot of impression on women in the country. Even though her chapter is closed, the things she did will outlive her.”
The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu described her as “an outstanding patriot who believed in the good of the people.”
With each member recalling one virtue or another of Professor Akunyili, the special FEC session rose to the point of sculpting a marvelous and remarkable personality of her in death.
Most Nigerians wish that the Federal Government immortalises Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili with one of the most popular government structures.
