By Adesina Soyooye
Former Director General of NAFDAC, late Professor Dora Akunyili, and her husband, Dr. Professor Chike Akunyili, who was gruesomely killed by gunmen in his native Anambra State, must be smiling from wherever they are. Their children, all of them, have soared, in their absence in their different endeavours of life, including medicine.
The latest is the feat performed by one of their award winning daughters, an artist, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby.
Mrs Akunyili-Crosby, Nigerian-American artist has taken away the breath of former US President, Barack Obama, and his wife, Michelle, by creating a portrait of the former first American couple.
Celebrating the portrait in a post on X , Mrs Obama shared a video where Akunyili-Crosby was unveiling the artwork she created for the Obama presidential center in Chicago.
The presidential center is an under-construction museum, library, and educational project to commemorate Barack Obama’s legacy. It will be s opened to the public on June 19.
Michelle Obama in her description of the portrait said it is “a deeply appreciated honour.” She commended Akunyili-Crosby’s “artistic brilliance,” and noted the vibrant energy captured in the piece.
She wrote: “Barack and I were so honored to have @AkunyiliCrosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center. Her artistic brilliance shines through — and the way she infused such life and joy into the piece is truly extraordinary. We love it, and we think everyone who visits the Center will too.”
President Obama in describing the portrait said it “looked fantastic”.
Akunyili-Crosby explained that in creating the portrait, she immersed herself in past works of the Obamas and interviews to guide her artistic decisions.
“We read all your books and listened to all your interviews, podcasts, and videos. My whole studio got to know you. I wanted to make decisions that tapped into those memories so it would feel familiar.”
Akunyili-Crosby, an accomplished artist, has received a lot of accolades. In 2026, she was named one of the Financial Times’ ‘Women of the Year’ in 2016. Akunyili-Crosby also received the MacArthur Fellowship ‘Genius Grant’ in 2017. In 2018, she
designed a 2018 mural for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and, in 2023, she showcased her works on Nigerian culture at David Zwirner’s gallery in Los Angeles.
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