Maku leads Federal Info management and staff on condolence visit to Akunyili’s family.

The management of the Federal Ministry of Information has paid a condolence visit to the family of  Dr. Akunyili in Abuja over the demise of the former Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili.

The Ministry had earlier held a special valedictory session in honour of Prof. Akunyili, where the management and staff who worked with her paid tributes and eulogised the deceased as an outstanding public servant.

While speaking during the visit, Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku commiserated with the children of the deceased and said though the death of their mother was painful, they should take solace in the fact that she lived a life that impacted positively on Nigerians.

“It is our conviction that our sister lived out her life so gloriously.   As her children, you will be left with the emotion of pain, losing a dear mother at a prime age, but you should be proud of who she was and in these six decades that she lived through Nigeria, she has affected everybody in the country;  she has impacted positively.  There is no community you go, that the name Dora Akunyili does not ring a bell”, he stated.

He urged the children to follow the footsteps of their mother and strive to surpass her achievements in service to the nation and humanity.
“We should thank God for what He has used her to do, first to bring you into the world; very brilliant people, first class children that are already taking her place and that alone is a consolation that she’s gone but she’s here.  We knew the place she left there will be no vacuum.  God will walk you to fill that vacuum”, Mr. Maku remarked.

Mr. Maku described Prof. Akunyili as a patriot and a role model for young women who had uncommon passion and commitment to Nigeria.  He said though she died in her prime age, Prof. Akunyili had fulfilled her assignment while on earth.

He therefore, promised that the Federal Ministry of Information would actively participate in all the programmes lined up for the funeral of Prof. Dora Akunyili.

When she was speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan said, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili had left behind a high standard of service for them to maintain.

She said the deceased lived a purposeful life of service, which was worthy of emulation.

Children of the deceased took turns to express their gratitude for the eulogies and outpouring of emotions from Nigerians since the news of the death of their mother broke out.

Njideka Akunyili said, though the death of their mother was a huge loss to the family and the nation, they were comforted by the love shown to them in their period of bereavement.