THIS year, precisely, yesterday, July 14, Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili, the indefatigable Minister of Information and Communications would be 56 years. Unlike most public servants who would clink the glass, lavish resources to celebrate the day, Madam Re-branding would as usual, use her birthday anniversary to reflect on the past, consolidate on her flawless public service and project into the future.

For me, I have chosen to use the day to pay tribute to my boss for attaining this milestone, especially in a country where life expectancy is below 50. That God in His infinite mercy has kept her alive, hale and hearty; that the Minister has used her sojourn into public service to serve mankind, in an era where service to God and country seem to be an exception rather than the rule, call for tributes from her well-wishers.

Akunyili is many things to many people. To the Nigerian woman, she is a priceless jewel and pride to women folk.

To the academics, she is a cerebral scholar and Pharmacologist of high pedestal. In the eyes of the civil society, she is an activist in government while establishment politicians reckon with her either as iron lady or progressive politician. This is probably because she has distinguished herself in all the offices she has held beginning from her days as Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Director General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and currently as chief image maker of the Federation. For me, Madam Re-branding could be metaphorically likened to a nubile damsel in a brothel who refuses to compromise her chastity even at the detriment of her comfort.

While many public office holders see public office as avenue to salt away the common wealth of the nation, Dora believes it is entrusted in public office holders to uplift society and not self. Dora has so far proved to be resolutely incorruptible. For the over one year I have known the Minister, she has upheld transparency, accountability and meritocracy as her watchword in all her official decisions!

This account for the over 500 awards and diadems she has nicked from both local and international institutions and groups in less than 18 years of her active public service in recognition of her patriotism. No wonder at 56, Dora, the amazing amazon is already a model to millions of Nigerians.

As far as I am concerned, she has earned a reputation that equals that of the slain Pakistani heroine and political matriarch, Benazir Bhutto who risked her life to return her country from exile! Just like Bhutto whose mission was perceived at the time as ‘‘impossible’’, many Nigerians never believed Dora would succeed in her relentless war against drug barons who had for over two decades held the public health system hostage.

This was against the background that NAFDAC had existed before her appointment as its DG with the barons threatening to bring the roof down if any mortal dared to freeze them from their illicit business. Two, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti of blessed memory who remains the best Health Minister ever in the history of this nation could not stop the rot caused by drug barons.

Alas when the Daniel in Dora came to judgement in NAFDAC, she cleansed the Augean stable and Nigerians shouted Uhuru. But our own Dora would have been history now like Bhutto if God had not protected her against the bullets of the drug barons who were bent on snuffing life out of her for daring to wage war against counterfeit drugs. When she was named the Minister of Information and Communications, not a few people believed she could succeed in a Ministry with little budgetary allocations!

In less than three months of her being in the saddle, Dora initiated the Re-branding Nigeria Project to reposition the battered image of Nigeria. Though lofty and capital intensive, the Minister rallied round the organised private sector for the funding of the campaign and today, the project has become a house hold name in Nigeria and beyond. Between 7th and 9th of July, the re-branding ship berthed in the ancient city of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

Before Maiduguri, the re-branding campaign had been launched in Bauchi, Imo, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom and Plateau states. In all the town hall meetings held, artisans, professionals, political stakeholders bought into the initiative. The Minister has put in place a structure that would enable the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications drive the campaign even after her exit until Nigerians can take their citizenship to the bank!

The Minister is working very hard in conjunction with the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and service providers to improve the quality of telecoms, reduce tariffs, ensure number portability, reduce dropped calls, ensure infrastructure sharing, among others.

As she marks her 56th birth day, may the Almighty God who delivered her from the jaws of assassins keep the Minister in good health for the service of humanity

Mr. Enayi writes from Abuja.