The funeral of former Minister of
Information and Communications, late Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Nkem Akunyili, begins
today, Friday, August 22, with a Christian Wake-Keep at her Enugu residence,
No. 2A Bishop Onyeabor St., G.R.A. Enugu.
The vigil, which begins from 4:00 p.m.,
kicks off a week-long funeral programme of activities for the celebrated
one-time NAFDAC Director-General, culminating in her burial on Thursday, August
28, 2014.
Prof. Akunyili’s funeral continues on
Monday, August 25, with a Night of Tributes to be held at the International
Conference Centre, Abuja, from 5:00 p.m. A Mass would be held for her at Pro-Cathedral
Catholic Church, Abuja, by 10:00 a.m. the next day, August 26.
After the Church Service, Dora’s body
would leave for Enugu, where there would be a Mass at KSJ Temple at 4:00 p.m.
After a High Requiem Mass at Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu at 9:00 a.m. the next
day (Wednesday, August 27), Dora’s body would be taken to UNCOMA Hall, College
of Medicine, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, for Final College Assembly to start from
11:30 a.m. From there, the body would be taken to Awka for Anambra State
Government activities, then to Dora’s father’s house in Nanka, before being
returned to her husband’s house at Agulu for a Vigil Mass/Wake-Keep.
On Thursday, August 28, Dora’s body
would lie in state at John Chike Akunyili’s Compound before leaving for Agulu
Town Hall, then Madonna Catholic Church Agulu for a Requiem Mass to hold by
10:00 a.m. Interment at John Chike Akunyili’s Compound follows at 1:30 p.m.
A renowned Pharmacist, Pharmacologist
and Administrator, Prof. (Mrs.) Akunyili came to prominence as Director-General
of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
from 2011 to 2008. She went on to further cement her legacy as Minister of
Information and Communications from 2008 to 2010.
Prof. (Mrs.) Akunyili was a delegate to
the National Conference as at the time of her death on Saturday, June 7, 2014,
after a two-year battle with cancer. The woman of substance, who would have
turned 60 on July 14, is survived by her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, six
children, three grandchildren, siblings and several relatives.
Signed:
Isaac Umunna
Media Adviser to Late Prof. Dora
Akunyili,
Enugu, Thursday, August 22, 2014.
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