Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, Designer of the Nigerian Flag, Passes Away at 87
Published on: (Updated on: )
Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man responsible for designing the Nigerian flag, passed away at the age of 87. The sad news was confirmed by his son, Akinkunmi Akinwumi Samuel, who announced the passing on his Facebook page on Wednesday. Samuel paid tribute to his father by writing, "Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly you live a life with a landmark. Continue to rest on, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akunkunmi (O.F.R) Great man has gone."
Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi's Lasting Legacy
Born in 1936, Pa Akinkunmi designed the flag in 1959 while studying at Norwood Technical College in London, England. His design was chosen in a national competition, beating out nearly 3,000 other submissions. The flag was first hoisted on October 1, 1960, the day Nigeria became an independent nation.
The Nigerian flag, composed of green-white-green vertical stripes, has since become a symbol of unity, peace, and wealth for millions of Nigerians and those of Nigerian descent across the world. Akinkunmi's legacy was formally recognized in 2014 when he was honored with the Order of the Federal Republic (O.F.R).
Prominent figures across Nigeria and the diaspora have been quick to express their condolences..