A nonagenarian who planned Nigeria’s banner, Dad. Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (OFR), is dead.
After a brief illness, Pa. Akinkunmi, 93, passed away in the early hours of Tuesday.
His death was announced on one of his children’s Facebook pages.
He expressed, “Life is to be sure transient; I can confidently assert that you have a landmark in your life. Keep on resting, my dad! Dad Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R.): Extraordinary Man has gone.”
Dad Akinwumi, a local of Abeokuta, Ogun State, was brought into the world on May 10, 1936, yet lived in Ibadan until his end.
He went to Baptist Day Auxiliary School, Ibadan, for his Essential instruction and Ibadan Punctuation School, Ibadan, for his Optional training.
He began his profession as a Government worker at the Secretariat of Ibadan and later made a trip abroad to concentrate on Horticultural Designing at Norway Specialized School.
In 1958, during his visit abroad, Akinkunmi coincidentally found a notice in a public everyday requiring the accommodation of plans for the Nigerian public banner considering Nigeria’s impending Freedom from English administration.
His entrance was declared awesome among the around 2,000 sections submitted.
The original flag design featured a white band that was surrounded by two green bands. On the white band was a red sun with rays that were moving in all directions.
The sun was in the end discarded by the directing council to create the current plan.
Akinkunmi’s plan was chosen in view of its resourcefulness and significance (the green groups address the backwoods and plentiful regular abundance of the country, while the white band addresses harmony).
The banner was authoritatively raised on Freedom Day (October 1, 1960) rather than the English Association Jack.
Akinkunmi was granted 100 pounds by the public authority when his plan was chosen.
He has likewise been respected with the MON (Individual from the Request for the Niger) Grant by President Goodluck Jonathan.