Late Prof. Dora Akunyili For Burial On Aug 28

The burial of Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information, has been fixed for Aug. 28, the husband of the deceased, Dr Chike Akunyili, confirmed.

Akunyili made the announcement on Saturday during a news conference at the family's country home in Nneogidi village, Agulu in Anaocha
local council area of Anambra.

According to him, there will be a wake keep at their Enugu residence on Aug. 22, while a night of tributes will be held at Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, on Aug. 25.

He said, "Her body will leave the National Hospital, Abuja, to the family house at Rudolf Close, Maitama, Abuja, on Aug. 26.


"There will be a Church mass at Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church, Abuja, by 10 a.m. on Aug. 26, after which the body leaves Abuja for Enugu by 2.30 p.m.


"On Aug. 27, her body arrives Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, for Requiem High Mass by 9 a.m. and arrives Awka by 1 p.m. for Anambra
State Government's activities.''

Akunyili added that on Aug. 28, Dora's body would leave Agulu to Nanka and to Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu, for requiem mass by
10.30 a.m., while interment would hold at the family's Agulu country home by 1.30 p.m.

He thanked Nigerians and President Goodluck Jonathan for the concern, love, emotion and moral support to the family.

He described his late wife as "an elephant who loved her country even during her travails.

"Her love for Nigeria was phenomenal and beyond words; even in her last days when she was very ill, she insisted that she would serve
the country with her last breath.

"She wanted a home called Nigeria where citizens could live and enjoy.''


He, however, disclosed that the former Director-General of National Agency for Food Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) did not die of cervical cancer as speculated in national
newspapers but died of a rare type of cancer called Endometrian Carcinoma.


He said "such cancer spreads fast without you knowing.

"We were told that people with such condition will only live for seven months, but with prayers, she survived it for two years and two months until she became ill again.

"Although she is dead, I know her spirit hovers around because since her death, everything had been easy and working for me mysteriously.'' (NAN)