Dr. Dora Akunyili is the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria. As a professor, pharmacist and government administrator, she has received global recognition for her work.

She was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2001 after developing a reputation for honesty. At the time, close to 80% of drugs available to Nigerian consumers in the market were counterfeit. Nigeria desperately needed Akunyili to clean up the agency.

Akunyili has brought about great change and improvement through scrutiny, investigation and the promotion of integrity. The piracy rate for pharmaceuticals has come down to 10%, the death rate in hospitals has decreased, and there have been many criminals convicted of counterfeit drug related crimes. Her agency has focused on preventing counterfeits coming into the country and by undertaking systematic surveillance at Nigeria's most sensitive entry points.

It has not been an easy fight for Akunyili. She lost her own sister to counterfeit insulin and ever since has made it her top priority to eliminate counterfeit drugs and unsafe food. In 2003 she was shot at and barely survived the attack, her office burned down, her home was broken into and her staff has been harassed and blackmailed.

Akunyili has received awards from all over the globe despite the constant risks to her life. Her work has provided a successful example for developing countries on how to fight counterfeiters.