About Dr. Anthony Akande, the Afemai Development Hero of the Month.

US-based Dr. Anthony Akande, the Afemai Development Hero of the Month Award recipient for December 2017, is an Afemai-born pharmaceutical icon and philanthropic juggernaut from Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria.

He had his primary school education at Iretoji Primary School, Igarra where he completed his first school leaving certificate with Merit; and his secondary school education at Ekpese College, Lampese where he passed his West African School Certificate with distinction (Grade 1).

In his thirst for knowledge, Dr. Anthony Akande was a pioneer student of Edo State University (now Ambrose Alli University) where he received his first Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Biology.

After his National Youth Service Corps, he joined the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, Lagos.

Following his age-long dream to pursue advanced education, in January 1989, he proceeded to the United States.  As providence would have it, he was admitted to Howard University, Washington, D.C. where he graduated with his second Bachelor of Science, but now in the field of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. While at Howard University, he was honored by his peers as the most industrious student and was also published in Washington, D.C.’s “St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Journal” in 1993. Upon graduation, he was the only graduating student to receive the prestigious “Pfizer Community Pharmacist Award” at the graduation ceremony held by Howard University.

Dr. Akande has a very rich post-graduation work profile. He worked with few pharmaceutical corporations and was not equaled. He was entrusted with the management of multi-million dollar businesses and he triumphed excellently. After about fourteen years of corporate experience, Dr. Anthony Akande decided it was time to veer his own path.

He, therefore, enrolled for the highest degree of his profession, the doctorate program, with the prestigious University of Florida in 2003 where he completed the program and immediately went into private business to carve out his own niche.

He has since been privileged to have been appointed to various academic advisory bodies. Notable among them is his appointment as Member, Advisory Committee of Wayne County Community College, Michigan USA.

Dr. Akande is an active member of myriads of associations.  Most prominent among them are American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) and Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Americas (NAPSSA).

Others include Nigerian Pharmacists Association of Michigan (NPAM), immediate past President, Afenami World Congress (AWC) and a host of others where his invaluable contributions are enormous.

A man with great family values, great honor, humility and a high sense of human and professional integrity, his selfless service to Afemailand and, as a matter of fact, Nigeria can only be borne out of his shear natural exemplary leadership quality, service to mankind and philanthropy.

Nationally, Dr. Akande can be credited to the donation of a forty-foot container load of medical equipment and supplies which included but not limited to twenty dialysis machines, two ultra sound machines, hospital beds and others and another twenty- foot container both to Richard A. Aruora, a not-for-profit foundation based in Abuja, Nigeria.

On a community level, Dr.Akande served as a founding member and 1st President of Igarra Progressive Union, USA; Secretary-General of the Nigerian Pharmacists Association of Michigan, USA; a two-term President of Afemai World Congress (AWC), a global body that encompasses all sons and daughters of Edo North Senatorial District worldwide.

In October 2017, Dr. Akande collaborated with Dako Foundations, Lagos to conduct a three-day free medical missions in Damgbala and Somorika both in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria.  Also, he was a major financial sponsor of so-much-talked-about US-based Nigerian Positive Group Initiative (NPGI) Program where we conducted medical missions in Nigeria particularly Edo State and Yar’Adua Center, Abuja in support of the less privileged citizens of Nigeria. Dr. Tony Akande has also served as the diaspora co-ordinator for other philanthropic groups. The epic achievements recorded by these organizations are unparalleled.

Now coming closer home, Dr. Tony Akande single-handedly carried out myriads of developmental projects which today have added endless value to his land of nativity, Igarra, in particular and to Afemailand in general.

Most notable among them include:

(a)  Rehabilitation of street light on Igarra township road, stretching from Igarra cattle ranch axis of Ufa Quarters to Iretutu axis of Ugbogbo Quarters during the 2011 Aba Festival;

(b) Award by him and his immediate family of over fifty scholarship grants to Afenmai tertiary students spanning from the six local government areas making up Afemailand, namely Akoko-Edo, Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Owan East and Owan West;

(c) Credited for paying thirty per cent (30%) counterpart funding of a six-classroom building at the Comprehensive High School in Igarra;

Photos above show a six-classroom building at the Comprehensive High School, Igarra (Before).

Photos above show a six-classroom building at the Comprehensive High School, Igarra (After).

(d) Lately in 2017, Dr. Tony Akande commenced and completed the beautification of the entire Igarra town with street names and signs which was commissioned by Edo State Chief of Staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele.

Photo above show Mr. Taiwo Akerele (On red tie), the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Nigeria commissioning the street names and signs commenced and compłeted through the efforts of Dr. Anthony Akande.

(e)  Also responsible for a classroom furniture (tables and chairs) for Orere Primary School, Igarra.

Dr.Akande, an ardent believer in the unity, not just of Igarra, but also the socio-economic advancement of Nigerian populace at large, is a loving husband and a responsible father.

He happily resides with his wonderful family in United States of America.