Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the nonagenarian who designed Nigeria’s national flag, has passed away at the age of 93. He died in the early hours of Tuesday after a brief illness. The news of his demise was announced on social media by one of his children.
Born on May 10, 1936, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Pa Akinkunmi spent most of his life in Ibadan. He attended Baptist Day Secondary School and Ibadan Grammar School for his primary and secondary education, respectively. He later began his career as a civil servant at the Secretariat of Ibadan before traveling overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
In 1958, while abroad, Akinkunmi came across an advertisement in a national daily newspaper inviting submissions for designs of the Nigerian national flag in anticipation of the country’s upcoming independence from British colonial rule. His design, which featured a white band flanked by two green ones and a red sun with streaming rays on the white band, was chosen as the best among approximately 2,000 entries.
Although the red sun was removed from the final design by the overseeing committee, Akinkunmi’s flag design was selected for its creativity and symbolism. The green bands represent Nigeria’s lush forests and abundant natural resources, while the white band symbolizes peace.
The Nigerian flag, based on Akinkunmi’s design, was officially raised on Independence Day, October 1, 1960, replacing the British Union Jack. For his contribution, Akinkunmi was awarded £100 by the government.
He was also honored with the MON (Member of the Order of the Niger) Award by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi’s legacy lives on through the Nigerian flag that he designed, which continues to symbolize the nation’s identity and aspirations.
