In a gesture honoring the legacy of the late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the visionary behind Nigeria’s national flag, the Federal Government has extended a donation of N30 million to his family.
The presentation took place on Thursday at Akinkunmi’s residence in Elebu, Ibadan, with the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the Oyo State Director of the agency, Olukemi Afolayan, in attendance.
Lanre Issa-Onilu emphasized that the donation was not a compensation for Akinkunmi’s services but a recognition of his monumental contributions to the nation.
He stated, “This gesture is to support the family and honor the enduring legacy of Pa Akinkunmi, whose design has become a symbol of our national identity.”
Akinwunmi Akinkunmi, one of the late designer’s sons, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for the support.
“We are deeply appreciative of this recognition and the assistance extended to our family. It is a testament to our father’s enduring legacy,” he remarked.
Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi passed away on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87. Following his demise, President Tinubu dispatched a government delegation led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, to convey condolences to the bereaved family.
After a year-long anticipation for a government-organized befitting burial, Akinkunmi was laid to rest in September 2024 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The funeral service was held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium on Liberty Road, drawing dignitaries, family members, and well-wishers who gathered to pay their final respects.
During the service, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi conveyed the family’s openness to any initiatives by the Federal Government to immortalize his father. “We welcome any manner the government deems fit to honor and preserve the memory of our father,” he stated.
Pa Akinkunmi’s design of the national flag, featuring green and white vertical stripes, was first hoisted on October 1, 1960, marking Nigeria’s independence. His creation has since stood as a profound emblem of the nation’s unity and sovereignty.
