- By Demola Atobaba
Information reaching TopNewsng now was that Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (OFR), the designer of Nigerian National Flag, is dead.
Aged 87, he was reported dead in his Ibadan home in the early hours of Tuesday, after a brief illness.
The demise of Pa Akinkunmi was announced via the Facebook account of one of his children.
He 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 (OFR): Great Man has gone.”
Pa Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta, Ogun State, was born on May 10, 1936, but lived in Ibadan until his demise.
He attended Baptist Day Secondary School, Ibadan, for his primary school education.
He also attended Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, for his secondary school education.
Pa Akinkunmi started his career as a civil servant at the Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan.
He later traveled overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
During his stay abroad, he came across an advertisement in national newspaper in 1958.
The advertisement called for submission of designs for the Nigerian National Flag.
Nigeria, then under the British Colonial Rule, was at the threshold of gaining its independence to become a sovereign country.
The entry by Pa Akinkunmi was adjudged the best among the almost 2,000 entries submitted.
The flag, as originally designed, featured a white band flanked by two green ones, and a red sun with streaming rays 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.
Pa Akinkunmi was awarded 100 pounds by the government when his design was selected.
The flag was officially hoisted on Independence Day (1 October, 1960) to replace the British Union Jack.
He has also been honoured with the MON (Member of the Order of the Niger) Award by President Goodluck Jonathan.
