Dora Akinyili’s funeral programme out, to be buried August 28

Former Minister of Information and Communications, Late Dora Akunyili, will be buried on August 28, 2014.

A statement released yesterday by her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili in Enugu State outlined a week-long funeral programme for the late minister who died June 7, 2014, in an Indian hospital after a two year battle with cancer.

Her funeral programmes include a Christian wake-keep in Enugu on August 22, a night of tributes at the International Conference Center in Abuja on August 25, and a Mass at the Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church, Abuja, on August 26.

Following the church service in Abuja, Mrs. Akunyili’s remains would be flown to Enugu where a Mass is scheduled 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,” her family’s statement disclosed.

The former minister’s remains would lie in state at her husband’s country home “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.”

Mrs. Dora would be specially remembered for her heroic exploits in stamping out fake food and drugs during her time as the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). She was a delegate to the on-going National Conference in Abuja before being hr health condition worsened and eventually led to her death at the age of 59.




Mr. Akunyili thanked Nigerians for their expressions of love and support for his family since their bereavement, saying: “This has gone a great way in helping us to cope with the monumental loss of our precious gem, my beloved wife, Dora.