The designer of Nigeria’s national flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, has died at the age of 87.
Announcing the demise on Wednesday, his son, Akinkunmi Akinwumi Samuel, who took to Facebook to express his heartfelt emotions, wrote: “Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly you lived a life with a landmark,” he wrote. “Continue to rest on, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R) Great Man has gone.”
Pa Akinkunmi’s name became part of Nigeria’s history when he crafted the timeless design that would become the symbol (and official colours) of Nigeria.
Pa Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta, Ogun State, was born on May 10, 1936, but lived in Ibadan until his demise.
He worked as a Civil Servant at the Secretariat of Ibadan and later travelled overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
While abroad, Akinkunmi read in the national daily a call for the submission of designs for the Nigerian national flag ahead of the country’s Independence from colonial rule.
His entry was adjudged the best among the roughly 2,000 entries submitted.
The original design of the flag featured a white band (which signified peace) flanked by two green ones (which represents the green bands represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country) and a red sun with streaming rays was located on the white band.
The sun was eventually scrapped by the overseeing committee to produce the present design.
The flag was officially hoisted on Independence Day (October 1, 1960) instead of the British Union Jack.
