Taiwo Akinkunmi, Designer of Nigerian Flag, Finally Laid to Rest [Photos]

Family Buries Nigerian Flag Designer, Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, After Year-Long Wait.

The family of Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the late designer of Nigeria’s national flag, has finally laid him to rest, one year after his passing. Akinkunmi, who died on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87, was buried with the support of the Oyo State Government, after the federal government failed to fulfill its promise of a state burial.

A funeral service, organized by the Oyo State government, was held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, attended by a large gathering of mourners, including family, friends, and government officials. The service was conducted by ministers from the Gospel Faith Mission International.

In a eulogy, Oyo State’s acting governor, Mr. Bayo Lawal, described Akinkunmi as a pride to the state, nation, and the world, citing the national flag’s enduring legacy. He emphasized the importance of unity and peace, symbolized by the flag’s colors, and urged Nigerians to remain united.

Lawal also called on the federal government to recognize and immortalize Akinkunmi’s legacy, criticizing their absence from the burial ceremony. The son of the deceased, Mr. Akinwumi, expressed gratitude to the Oyo State Government for their support.

The burial marks the end of a year-long wait for Akinkunmi’s family, who had hoped for a state burial that never materialized. Despite this, his legacy lives on through the national flag, a symbol of Nigerian unity and identity.

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