The man who designed Nigeria’s flag, Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi is dead.
Our correspondent gathered that he died on Tuesday after a brief illness.
The deceased son, Samuel, who announced his demise via his Facebook post wrote “Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly you live a life with a landmark. Continue to rest on, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R) Great Man has gone.”
President Bola Tinubu yesterday conveyed his deepest sympathy to the family of Pa Akinkunmi, who designed the national flag in 1958 and left a generational legacy, following his passing into glory at the age of 87.
President Tinubu in a statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale condoled with friends, and associates of the retired civil servant, who dedicated his life to the service of the nation, sharing knowledge and experience with old and young, and inspiring many to think and act patriotically.
The president affirmed that the Green and White flag is a legacy that has consistently reflected the fruitfulness, resilience, and harmony enjoyed by the nation, and the boldness and uniqueness with which Nigerians characteristically reach for and achieve success around the world.
President Tinubu believes Pa Akinkunmi lived and worked for the greatness of the country, and rests eternally with a place of honour in Nigeria’s history.
Pa Akinwumi who hailed from Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State was born on 10 May, 1936.
He attended Baptist Day Secondary School, Ibadan for his Primary education and Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan for his Secondary education.
He took up an appointment as a civil servant at Secretariat Ibadan. After some years of service, he travelled overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
In 1958, during his stay abroad, Akinkunmi stumbled on an advertisement in a national daily calling for submission of designs for the Nigerian national flag in view of the imminent Independence from British governance.
He immediately began work on his own entry which was eventually selected as best among the roughly 2000 entries submitted.
The original design of the flag featured a white band flanked by two green ones; a red sun with streaming rays was located on the white band. The sun was eventually done away with by the overseeing committee to produce the present design.
Akinkunmi’s design was selected because of its ingenuity and profundity (the green bands represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, while the white band represents peace).
The flag was officially hoisted on Independence Day (October 1, 1960) instead of the British Union Jack.
Akinkunmi was awarded 100 pounds by the government when his design was selected. He has also been honoured with the MON (Member of the Order of the Niger) Award by President Goodluck Jonathan.
To mark his 77th birthday, a Christian organisation called G-Next did a home makeover in his Ibadan residence.
