Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of the Nigerian flag, passed away at the age of 87.
On Wednesday, Akinkunmi Akinwumi Samuel, his son, posted on his Facebook page that his father had passed away.
In a tribute to his father on his facebook wall, Akinwumi 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.”
A native of Abeokuta, Akinkunmi was born was born on May 10, 1936, but lived in Ibadan.
He received his basic and secondary education at Baptist Day Secondary School in Ibadan and Ibadan Grammar School in Ibadan, respectively.
The late Akinkunmi began his professional life as a government servant in the Secretariat of Ibadan. Later, he went abroad to Norway Technical College to pursue a degree in Agricultural Engineering.
While residing overseas in 1958, Akinkunmi came across an advertisement for the submission of ideas for the Nigerian national flag as the country’s separation from British rule was approaching.
His entry was chosen out of the more than 2,000 that were submitted.
However, the flag’s original layout had a white band in the centre, two green bands on either side, and a red sun with flowing rays on the white band.
The committee in charge subsequently decided to remove the sun, but Akinkunmi’s design was chosen because of its originality and profundity.
Akinkunmi was awarded 100 pounds by the government when his design was selected as the Nigerian flag.
Additionally, President Goodluck Jonathan bestowed upon him the Order of Federal Republic (OFR) award.
