The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) commiserates with the family of Late Prof Dora Akunyili and the good people of Nigeria on the sudden and untimely death of Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information and Communications.
A statement released by AAAN and signed by the Publicity Secretary, Celey Okogun, PhD describes the Late Akunyili as a woman of courage and extra-ordinary achievements. “Her first formal contact with the Association was in September 2003 when she was invited as a Special Guest of Honour and a keynote speaker on Food & Drugs Advertising: Issues and Challenges during the AAAN Quarterly Business Luncheon. Most members of the Association had complained of double vetting and NAFDAC vetting requirements. This prompted the Association’s Executive Board to invite her to speak on the issue as well as solicit her support in resolving the challenges”.
She agreed that the issue of advertisement message control and approval should be left in the hands of APCON, gave her commitment that NAFDAC will return as member of Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) and NAFDAC will collaborate with APCON, AAAN and other stakeholders to streamlined vetting procedures. This was done as promised.
Few years later, she was appointed the Hon. Minister of Information and Communications. The Association not only congratulated her but also promised to support her in ensuring her tenure was successful.
Prof. Akunyili paid a condolence visit to the then President of the Association, Mr. Funmi Onabolu in 2010 to commiserate with him on the demise of his father. She was the first Hon. Minister of Information to visit the Association since its inception 41 years ago.
After announcement that her Ministry on behalf of the Federal Government was pursuing a rebranding campaign in Nigeria, the Association wrote to her on the need to appoint the Association into the management committee as well as pledge support for the programme. The then president of the Association, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi was thereafter appointed as a member and later secretary of the rebranding project management committee. The government later set up a Rebranding Project Basic Support Group (RPBSG) and Mr. Akinwunmi was appointed CEO.
In July 2009, the Federal Government erroneously appointed a new Council for APCON without regard to the APCON establishment act. The Association quickly wrote to the Hon. Minister intimating her of the illegality and the need to reverse the action. An amazon, she did not only reverse the appointment, she promised to take the issue up with the federal government to forestall repetition of the issue.
During her tenure as the Honourable Minister, Prof. Akunyili made time out of her very busy schedule to attend industry events, engage practitioners during interactive sessions and was always ready to support the growth and development of advertising as a profession and practice.
The President of the Association, Mrs. Bunmi Oke noted that Prof. Akunyili will remain in the memories of those who were privileged to know her as a diligent professional and patriotic Nigerian who served the country with great conviction. {fcomments}