The Nigerian government has mourned the death of the designer of the Nigerian national flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, who died at the age of 84, at his family home in Ibadan, after a brief illness.
In a statement yesterday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, expressed sadness over the news of the demise of Akinkunmi, a national icon, whose contribution to national unity will remain indelible.
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“The death of Pa Akinkunmi came at the time Nigeria was reinventing itself for peace, development and enduring national reconciliation; the country would miss the contributions of the deceased especially at this time that the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is banking on the Renewed Hope Agenda to build on the national fervour that characterised Nigeria’s journey to independence.
“I am confident that Pa Akinkunmi will continue to live in the minds of Nigerians for generations to come,” Idris said.
He described the national flag, one of the revered national symbols as an asset for which Pa Akinwunmi has etched his name in the annals of Nigerian history.
“I, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, praying that God will grant them the fortitude to bear this great loss,” he added.
The late Akinwunmi, who studied engineering at the Norwood Technical College, London, designed the Nigerian flag in 1958 and was awarded 100 pounds by the government when his design was selected.
Earlier yesterday, his demise was announced via the Facebook account of one of his children.
He had written, “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.”
Akinwumi is a native of Abeokuta, Ogun State, but lived in Ibadan until his demise. He attended Baptist Day Secondary School, Ibadan, for his primary education and Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, for his secondary education.
He started his career as a civil servant at the Secretariat of Ibadan and later travelled overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
Akinkunmi in 1958, during his stay abroad, stumbled upon an advertisement in a national daily calling for the submission of designs for the Nigerian national flag in view of Nigeria’s imminent Independence from British governance.
His entry of green white green was adjudged the best among the roughly 2,000 entries submitted and the flag was officially hoisted on Independence Day (October 1, 1960) instead of the British Union Jack.