Nigerian Flag Designer, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, Set For State Burial One Year After Death

IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA – A year after his death at the age of 87, Pa Taiwo Michael Akinkunmi, the man who designed the Nigerian flag, will finally be laid to rest this week in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Despite a promise from the Federal Government to give Akinkunmi a state burial, no concrete plans were made in the past year. As a result, Akinkunmi’s family has had to pay N2,000 daily to keep his body in a morgue, adding financial strain as they awaited the government’s action.

According to Akinkunmi’s son, in June of this year, they were informed that the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), under the Arts Ministry, had been tasked with organizing the state funeral.

However, after just one phone call, there was no further communication from the institute, leaving the family frustrated and concerned about the delay tarnishing Akinkunmi’s legacy.

In response to the delay, the Oyo State government has now stepped up to finance the burial rites for the late flag designer, ensuring he receives a dignified send-off.

Akinkunmi’s contributions to Nigeria were not formally recognized until the country’s 50th anniversary of independence, when he was celebrated as one of 50 distinguished Nigerians.

His son revealed that it took political lobbying by an Oyo State politician to secure national honors and a pension for Akinkunmi.

In 2014, he was finally made an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), one of Nigeria’s highest national awards.

After Akinkunmi’s death last year, a Senator successfully moved a motion in the National Assembly for him to be accorded a state burial. The Federal Government initially promised to deliver on this, but the Oyo State government has now taken over the responsibility for Akinkunmi, affectionately known as “Mr. Flag Man,” ensuring the beloved national figure is laid to rest with the honour he deserved.