Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man who designed the Nigeria National flag, is dead. He died in the early hours of Tuesday after a brief illness at 87.
One of his children announced his death on Facebook.
He wrote: “Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly that you lived a life with a landmark.
“Continue to rest, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R.): A great man has gone.”
How he came about the Nigerian flag.
In 1958, while living abroad, Akinkunmi saw an advertisement in a national daily for the submission of designs for Nigeria’s national flag as the country’s independence from British governance was close.
Among the over 2,000 entries submitted, his was picked.
However, the original design of the flag featured a white band flanked by two green ones with a red sun and streaming rays on the white band.
Although the sun was eventually removed by the committee in charge, Akinkunmi’s design was selected for its ingenuity and profundity.
The green bands represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, while the white band represents peace.
It was hoisted on Independence Day, October 1, 1960, in place of the British Union Jack, while Akinkunmi was awarded 100 pounds when his design was selected.
He was forgotten even when the flag endured the civil war and several crises.
But eventually, he was honoured with the MON (Member of the Order of the Niger) by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Akinkunmi is a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State. He was born on May 10, 1936, but lived in Ibadan.
He attended Baptist Day Secondary School, Ibadan, and Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, for his primary and secondary education, respectively.
The late Akinkunmi started his career as a civil servant at the Secretariat of Ibadan. He later traveled overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
Tribune.
The Board of Trustees and membership of The Flag Foundation of Nigeria, yesterday commiserates with all Nigerians and the Akinkumi family on the passage of its Grand patron and the designer of the Nigeria National Flag PA Michael Taiwo Akinkumi MON at the age of 87.
Flag Foundation of Nigeria said the country owes debts of gratitude to the late Akinkumi for his foresight in designing the enduring Nigerian National Flag.
It said in a statement signed by the founder Barr. Chris Agiri that Nigerian National Flag has remained a true symbol of patriotism that Nigerians look up to in amidst conflicts and trials.
He recalled that “God used the flag foundation of Nigeria to bring to the attention of the Federal government the sorry plight of Akinkumi, which attracted the intervention of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in recognizing him.