Dora Akunyili’s son comments on the Fake Product trends, questions the worth of his mother’s efforts

The prevalence of fake products in Nigeria has been making rounds on the internet, with X (Twitter) users particularly trending the topic. Over the course of these discussions, many Nigerians have eulogized the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

Professor Dora Akunyili served as the Director-General of NAFDAC for 7 years, during which the agency underwent a transformative period. She initiated various reforms and implemented stringent measures to tackle the pervasive issue of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria. One of her notable achievements was the introduction of the “Nafdac Reg. No.” on drug packaging, providing a visible means for consumers to identify genuine pharmaceutical products. This move not only enhanced accountability in the pharmaceutical industry but also empowered consumers to make informed choices.

Her tenure saw numerous arrests and the destruction of vast quantities of counterfeit and substandard products. Many would agree that she had a no-nonsense approach to enforcement. It is not surprising, then, that her name keeps coming up in discussions around the increasing prevalence of counterfeit consumer goods in Nigerian stores and markets.

Responding to the tweets, Edozie Akunyili said, “Exactly. Nobody has sacrificed more for Nigeria than our family, and yet we constantly ask ourselves if it was worth it?”

“We would give anything to have our parents with us, but Naija moves on with corruption and impunity from the top down, seen as normalcy.”

“Sadly, she died because she was so engrossed in her work for NAFDAC that she delayed her fibroid hysterectomy for years, which later was found to be cancerous.

“When I see all the lies, corruption and dirty politics, it pains me that we lost our mother for nothing! Was it worth it?”

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Confidence Ubani

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