Njideka Akunyili, daughter of the late great prof Dora Akunyili may not be known to most Nigerians due to her humble background....The U.S.-based star artist who sets a high pace anywhere she goes with series of accolades has been labelled by art lovers as the real deal in the art world.... The Yale University graduate was born and raised in Nigeria, but went to University in the United States, and is married to an American.

According to Huffington post, five of her large figurative collage paintings sold out in just half an hour at Art Basel in 2012...She was also selected for the prestigious Studio Harlem residency program in 2011-2012 and is currently one of the three artists in its exhibition Primary Sources.

According to award winning journalist Funmi Iyanda, the only piece of African contemporary art at the Yale art gallery /museum, which is one of the oldest such institutions in America is by Njideka..

A double major in art studio and pre-medical in college, Akunyili explained in an interview why she decided to become an artist :

“Nigeria needs more artists than doctors. There’s nothing wrong with medicine. But if you think about our population. The estimate is 150 million of something ridiculous like that. But we don’t have a presence with a lot of things. Especially in the creative field.”

With the level of achievements and success, all can confirm that Njideka's a true daughter of the deceased Nigerian icon Professor Dora who in her life time received series of honorary recognitions for the great work done...

Source; http://www.nationalhelm.com/2014/11/must-read-things-you-dont-know-about.html