This kind of honour was last time extended to the former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.
President Goodluck Jonathan described the former Director General of National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as "a virtuous woman who is not easy to come by", Vanguard reports.
Recalling his first encounter with Akunyili, Jonathan said that he – being deputy governor back then – invited her for a breakfast. What she did was to warn his steward not to serve him cold bread to avoid contracting ulcer.
Jonathan praised Akunyili for her passion when she was working as NAFDAC Director General. He stressed that although most of the people who were involved in the fake drugs trade were Akunyili's kinsmen, she fought them courageously.
The president also noted that the ex-minister’s rebranding campaign for the country, with the popular slogan 'Good people, great nation', has remained enduring and ingrained in the minds of many Nigerians.
"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," Jonathan said.
A woman 'who spoke and worked the passion'
In his tribute, Vice-President Namadi Sambo said the death of Akunyili was great loss for the entire nation. "She was a patriotic Nigerian who left an indelible mark in the country, especially when she developed a system to rebrand this country as minister of information. She ensured that the issue of fake drug in Nigeria was addressed," he said.
Secretary to Government of the Federation Pius Anyim described Akunyili as a true nationalist and a reformer, while the Head of Service Goni Aji said: "NAFDAC, under Akunyili, emerged first in the rankings under the Civil Service programme to transform it into a world class service."
The Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who led the tribute from Ministers, described Akunyili as a woman "who spoke and worked the passion". During Akunyili' time, NAFDAC was consistently voted the best government agency because of her diligence, the finance minster said.
Minister of Solid Minerals Musa Sada referred to the late former minister as a woman who "was not willing to slow down for anything she believed was good for the country".
Minister of Power Chinedu Nebo, under whose vice-chancellorship Dora Akunyili was granted professorship, described her as a forthright, honest and diligent person who was courageous enough to speak out during the dark part of Nigeria's history.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Nwogu pointed out that even at the risk of her life, Akunyili remained committed to the work in NAFDAC in the interest of the nation.
Onyebuchi Chukwu, the health minister disclosed that he was pained by the death of "an outstanding patriot who believed in the good of the people".
The Minister of Information Labaran Maku moved the motion to condole Akunyili’s immediate family,the nation and President Jonathan.
Dora Akunyili died of uterine cancer on June 7, 2014 at the age of 59. In spite of the illness, she was actively participating in the work of the ongoing National Conference.
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