The family of Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the late designer of the Nigerian national flag, has laid him to rest after a year-long wait for a promised state funeral that never came to fruition.
Akinkunmi passed away on September 4, 2023, at the age of 87, and despite earlier assurances from the Federal Government to honor him with a state funeral, the family decided to proceed with his burial.
Akinwunmi Akinkunmi, one of his sons, disclosed that they had patiently waited for the government to fulfill its promise.
He also mentioned that the family had been paying N2,000 daily to preserve his father’s body in a morgue. Ultimately, the Oyo State Government took over and funded the burial, which took place in Ibadan from Wednesday to Friday.
Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi is remembered for designing the Nigerian flag in 1958, a feat that earned him a £100 award when his design was chosen. Born on May 10, 1936, in Ibadan, Akinkunmi left a lasting legacy through his contribution to national identity.
At the funeral service held at Liberty Stadium, Barr. Bayo Lawal, the Acting Governor of Oyo State, called on the Federal Government to give Akinkunmi the recognition and respect he deserved as a national hero.
He emphasized that despite Akinkunmi’s regional ties to Oyo State, his contribution to Nigeria as a whole should be acknowledged on a national level.
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