NO PLANS TO NAME UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN AFTER DORA AKUNYILI -- SAYS ABATI!

The Presidency on Sunday denied reports that the Federal Government was planning to name the University of Ibadan after the late Minister of Information and Communication, Dora Akunyili.

The presidential media aide, Reuben Abati, in a message on his Twitter handle, said there was never an official statement that President Goodluck Jonathan was considering naming the university after the deceased.

He also urged members of the public to ignore the news which he described as false.

“Nobody ever said Mr. President is considering naming University of Ibadan after Late Professor Dora Akunyili. Please ignore fake news,” he said.

Mrs. Akunyili, a professor of pharmacy and former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, died on Saturday in an Indian hospital.

According to Mr. Abati, the President stood by an official condolence statement released by the government shortly after Mrs. Akunyili’s death.

“On Dora Akunyili, there is an official statement conveying President Jonathan’s heartfelt condolences. We stand by that statement,” he said.

Mr. Abati had in a press statement on Saturday said the president received with shock and sadness the news of the death of the former minister.

He had also expressed the belief that Mrs. Akunyili would live long in the memories of those who were privileged to know her as “a diligent professional, a public-spirited and forthright public officer, and as a person of great convictions.”