By: Augustus Bill
Persons living with Sickle Cell Disorder, were clouded in a joyful euphoria, at the announcement that one of her frontline campaigners and matron, Prof Stella Okunna has been elected Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Speaking after the Association’s Radio program at Unizik FM, Aisha Edward the coordinator of APLSCD expressed unlimited joy at the breaking of the news, which she said has sent winds of joy to her members, as they rejoice with one of the women who has not only believed in their cause but has also championed the campaigns in her own capacity.
It would be noted that Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, a former Chief of Staff in Anambra state, provided the sickle cell association a new media tool for her ongoing sensitization campaigns through Unizik 94.1FM where she is the Director. She also ensured through her mediating roles that the Association’s program “Daring Expose” is sponsored by Mr Peter Obi.
Aisha described the first female professor of Mass Communication in West Africa as a disciplined woman, whose love and passion for charity know no bounds. She said the news of her appointment as a Dean did not come to them as a surprise, as she had left legacies in all positions she occupied both in Government and in Education, making her not only a strong but also a capable hand for the position.
She confirmed that her recent elevation would enable her create more avenues for the sickle cell sensitization campaigns, even as she congratulated her for her giant strides and wished her more grace and wisdom in her recent appointment.
The Board of Trustees Chairman of the Association, Hon. Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor congratulated Prof. Okunna on the appointment, while urging her to continue her goodwill towards the Sickle Cell Association, as he believes that her appointment was already a blessing to the Faculty of Social Sciences, Unizik.
Until her recent appointment, Prof. Okunna was the Head of Department Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, where she left Astounding legacies, not just as a mother and lecturer but also as the Director of the prestigious Unizik FM. She would always be remembered by students of Mass Communication Unizik for The New Ultramodern Digital Broadcast FM station for Unizik FM, which is one of her conspicuous legacy projects.
In the same vein, Aisha who was at the Unizik FM broadcast studio for the regular broadcast of the Association’s radio program “Daring Expsose”, also thanked the Anambra State Lawmakers for leading in the glorious stride of ensuring that the sickle cell bill is passed into law. She stated that the lawmakers weren’t just setting a pace in Anambra but has lit a light that would shine across West Africa with the passage of the bill into Law.
The Radio program also craved an opportunity for the association to appreciate the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly for seeing the need to repeal the sickle cell law of 2002. She, however, urged other States to emulate the legacy that the Anambra State lawmakers are making in passing the Sickle Cell Bill.
