The notable designer of Nigeria’s national flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi (OFR) has died. Akinkunmi passed away in the early hours of Tuesday after a brief illness.
While announcing his death on Facebook, one of his children wrote:
“Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly that you live a life with a landmark. Continue to rest, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R.): Great Man has gone.”
Born on May 10, 1936 Akinkunmi who comes from Abeokuta in Ogun State lived in Ibadan until his demise.
The elder statesman attended Baptist Day Secondary School before proceeding to Ibadan Grammar School.
He was a Civil Servant at the Secretariat of Ibadan and later travelled overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
During his stay abroad in 1958, Akinkunmi stumbled upon an advertisement in a national daily calling for submissions of designs for the Nigeria’s national flag ahead of Nigeria’s imminent Independence from Britain.
His entry was adjudged the best among about 2,000 entries submitted.
The original design of the flag has a white band flanked by two green ones and a red sun with streaming rays was located on the white band.
The sun was later removed by the committee tasked with producing the present design.
Akinkunmi’s design was selected because of its ingenuity and profundity (the green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, while the white band stands for peace).
The flag replaced the British Union Jack and was officially hoisted on Independence Day (October 1, 1960).
Akinkunmi received £100 pounds as reward from the government when his design was selected.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan honoured him with the MON (Member of the Order of the Niger).