The designer of the Nigerian Flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, has died at the age of 87.
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His son, Akinkunmi Akinwumi Samuel, announced his demise via his Facebook page on Wednesday.
He 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.”
Pa Akinkunmi started his career as a Civil Servant at the Secretariat of Ibadan and later travelled overseas to study Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
In 1958, during his stay abroad, he stumbled upon an advertisement in a national daily calling for the submission of designs for Nigeria’s national flag in view of Nigeria’s imminent Independence from British suzerainty.
His entry was adjudged the best among the roughly 2,000 entries submitted.
The original design of the flag featured a white band flanked by two green ones and a red sun with streaming rays located on the white band.
The sun was eventually removed by the screening committee to produce the present design.
Akinkunmi’s design was selected because of its ingenuity and profundity (the green bands represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, while the white band represents peace).
The flag was officially hoisted on Independence Day (October 1, 1960) replacing the British Union Jack.
Akinkunmi was awarded 100 pounds by the government when his design was selected as the Nigerian flag.
He has also been honoured with the Order of Federal Republic award by President Goodluck Jonathan.
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