Our reporter
Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the late designer of Nigeria’s national flag, has been laid to rest in Ibadan, one year after his passing.
Akinkunmi, who died on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87, was buried after a solemn funeral service organised by the Oyo State Government at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.
The burial comes after a year-long wait for a State burial promised by the Federal Government, which was never fulfilled.
In the absence of federal involvement, Akinkunmi’s family, supported by the Oyo State Government, decided to proceed with the funeral.
The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of mourners, including family members, friends, and government officials.
Ministers from the Gospel Faith Mission International conducted the service, paying tribute to the man whose work has become a symbol of national pride.
During the ceremony, Oyo State’s acting governor, Mr. Bayo Lawal, lauded Akinkunmi as a figure of immense pride not only for the state but also for the entire nation and the world.
He emphasised the enduring legacy of the Nigerian flag, which flies in every Nigerian embassy worldwide.
“The Green embodies agriculture and vast natural resources that we have in Nigeria, while the White symbolizes peace, tranquility, and calmness,” Lawal said.
“Nothing can be more relevant than ensuring peace and harmony among the diverse tribes we have across all the states in Nigeria because without peace, there can’t be progress and development.
So, we have to thank Pa Akinkunmi that he had envisioned that we need peace to drive the nation’s economy.”
Lawal also urged the Federal Government to ensure that Akinkunmi’s legacy is duly recognized and immortalized, expressing disappointment that the burial was left primarily to the family and the state government.
The son of the deceased, Mr. Akinwumi, expressed gratitude to the Oyo State Government for its support in ensuring his father received a befitting burial.
