Just yesterday I made an interesting discovery. I was studying the profiles of some of my role models. I decided to go into the details of the person of Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili. I was awed at her accomplishments, I kept scrolling down to see achievements, believe me, I kept scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. This woman has bagged over 260 awards! I went through them one by one and believe me, they were all inspiring. She had won most of the awards between 2003 and 2006, but she had won awards from way back in secondary school. I was certainly impressed that doing the right things can get one so much attention. It certainly fires my passion to continue to render selfless service to all around me. What however amazed me the most where not the awards…
If you are interested in seeing the awards you can check here.
What amazed me the most was that I looked through her educational details expecting to see the same foreign education stint that typifies most of the respected names in government today, but didn’t find it. I was surprised, our very Prof (Mrs) Dora Nkem Akunyili is made in Nigeria. For some minuites I remembered myself 
How often I had gotten asked by foreigners where in the world I schooled, they seemed ever to wonder how something good (so good ) could be made solely in Nigeria. I’m quick to tell them, it’s all Nigeria. I have friends who share this same experience. Let them hear it people, we were made in Nigeria, and proudly so. I have had classmates who left these shores, travelled to US, UK and all, and showed them that made in Nigeria is Number 1. Sorry if you are not completely made in Nigeria, but believe me, with all humility I know a number of people who going to Havard for them, will add value to Havard and not the other way round. I have always believed that education is not a function of the environment without, but the environment within. Nigerians are passionate and driven people! I remember a meeting I went for in Poland some years back, I remember how after the training, most of the trainers came to thank me for my contributions (as a participant), they told me they were really impressed with the passion, charisma and intelligence (o ga ju – emi naa). When I see that Dora Akunyili, Adeolu Akinyemi, Gbenga Sesan, Fela Durotoye, David Oyedepo, Sam Adeyemi, Dr. Enoch Adeboye, Aliko Dangote, Olu Akinkugbe and many other powerful brands like you are made in Nigeria – I see hope for our educational system.
Don’t get me wrong, its not bad to school abroad, in fact if you are able to show that Made in Nigeria is good stuff over there, its alright. I believe strongly that one of the things that must happen in our re-orientation as a nation is placing the right value upon ourselves.
Say it with me, I _________________, together with the likes of Dora Akunyili and Adeolu Akinyemi (Haha) am Proudly, Made in Nigeria!
THis another impactful and thought provoking write up.
THERE IS HOPE YET IN NIGERIA AND THE SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
I BELEIVE!
That was just so spot on. If anyone had any doubt that great stuff can come from this corner of the earth, Now, more than ever, they’ve got another think coming.
Now all that’s left is to spread that message of Personal Value. We are not inferior or second rate and we can mix it with the best of them…correction, We are the best of them.
Chairman, I think the list of the truly made in Nigeria is not complete because it doesnt have the name Oyedunle Kamal, if you doubt me, we will know in time.
Another thought provoking and timely piece; a friend was advising me just 2 days ago on the need for me to travel abroad to get some kinda degree before I can stand tall; but you know what? That drive of doing it elsewhere apart from Nigeria is not just there (I have a piece on that on my blog).
The world aint seen nothing yet! some more time and we will blast the world open!
A prophet has no honour except in his hometown is a popular maxim of the book of wisdom.
But for everyone, this amiable, strongwilled amazon has come to be celebrated both at home and abroad.
The first time i met this amazon in a lecture she delivered at NIPR, Lagos chapter, i watched this lady with all enthusiasm.
She is a public speaker with fire in her bones.She carry herself with all elegance and her presence is a complete representation of her inner her inner values. she dares to die for her convictions, beliefs. She sees a new tomorrow of Nigeria without fake drug. i hope someone will see a new tomorrow of a corrupt free political terrain and be ready to sacrifice his/her life.
wherever you are, please lighten your corner. But there is another unsung hero in the person of Ambassador Oliseemeka former foreign affairs minister during Abacha regime, and former Nigeria ambassador to Israel. please do a research on him, he is a complete gentleman with sound character and integrity.
Deolu,dora,dangote and other notable Nigerians listed had gone to school before the collapse of the educational system in Nigeria.
today we are all witnesses to the decay in the system, where peopler graduate certified but not educated.
I will suggest that all with the means to study oversea should do so,learn how things work and return home to make things better, while those with the means to sponsor those of us with intrests but without the means, to study overseas.
I see hope for this nation,
I believe in Nigeria
trully i can say that this is a challenge and i do bliv in the made in nigeria thing. it’s got me thinking and am proud of this OUR nigeria. naija ko ni baje rara. wit peoplelike deolu it gives us hope for a greater year ahead
yes o. i am proudly made in Nigeria. when you read biographies like hers with all the accomplishments, it makes you know ythat you havent arrived yet that you need to kepp pressing hard. with people like this, there certainly is hope for our great country.