Presidency Denies Naming University Of Ibadan After Dora Akunyili

The presidency has denied report that it is making plans to rename the University of Ibadan after the late Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Dora Akunyili who died on Saturday, June 7 in India.
Photo of Reuben Abati

A Twitter handle, @NTA_News purportedly belonging to the Nigeria Television Authority had quoted the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, as saying the President was making plans to immortalise Dora by renaming the nation’s premier university after her.

“Mr. President may consider renaming University of Ibadan as ‘Dora Akunyili Memorial University’ to honour the late NAFDAC boss,” the Twitter handle, @NTA_News wrote.

Reacting to this report, Abati said he never made such a statement to @NTA_News or anyone on his Twitter account, insisting that there was no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds on social media.

Abati tweeted:

Nobody ever said Mr President is considering naming University of Ibadan after Late Professor Dora Akunyili. Please ignore fake news.
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) June 8, 2014

On Dora Akunyili, there is an official statement conveying President Jonathan's heartfelt condolences. We stand by that statement.
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) June 8, 2014

Meanwhile, the management of the NTA has dissociated itself from the statement said to have emanated from its social media account, while also warning those behind the fake twitter handle to shut it down as it is a crime to impersonate a government agency.

Describing the Twitter handle as bogus, the NTA vowed to shut it down and ensure the prosecution of those behind the rumour.

As at the time of filing this report @NTA_News had become non-functional.

More tributes have continued to pour in for Dora Akunyili, with many describing her death as a great loss to the nation.