LAGOS, Nigeria — Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man who designed Nigeria’s national flag, died on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, after a brief illness, according to a statement made by one of his children.
“Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly that you lived a life with a landmark. Continue to rest, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R.): A great man has gone,” the statement read.
The Legacy of the Flag
In 1958, Akinkunmi, then living abroad, chanced upon an advertisement in a national daily inviting submissions for the design of Nigeria’s national flag.
The competition was in anticipation of Nigeria’s independence from British colonial rule.
Among more than 2,000 entries, Akinkunmi’s design was chosen for its simplicity, ingenuity, and profundity.
The original design included a white band flanked by two green bands with a red sun and rays in the middle.
Although the selection committee later removed the sun, the essence of his design remained intact.
The green bands on the flag symbolize Nigeria’s abundant natural resources and lush forests, while the white band signifies peace.
The flag was officially hoisted on Independence Day, October 1, 1960, replacing the British Union Jack.
Akinkunmi was awarded 100 pounds for his winning design and was later honored with the Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, by President Goodluck Jonathan.
A Life Well-Lived
Akinkunmi was born on May 10, 1936, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He grew up in Ibadan and received his primary and secondary education at Baptist Day Secondary School and Ibadan Grammar School.
He began his career as a civil servant at the Secretariat of Ibadan and later pursued Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
The designer’s passing marks the end of an era, a personal loss for his family, and a moment for the nation to reflect on its history and the symbols that bind it.
As flags across the country fly at half-staff to honor the late designer, Nigerians will remember Akinkunmi as a man who left an indelible mark on the nation’s identity.
His legacy, sewn into the very fabric of Nigeria, will endure for generations to come.
