President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has responded to the passing of the creator of the Nigerian flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi. According to a report by Punch , Pa Akinkunmi, aged 84, passed away. His son, Akinwumi Samuel, also confirmed the news on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu conveyed his condolences to the family of Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi. He stated that the deceased had left behind a lasting legacy.
Tinubu extended his sympathies to the friends and associates of the retired civil servant. He emphasized that Pa Akinkunmi had dedicated his life to serving the nation, imparting knowledge and wisdom to both the young and old, and motivating many to think and act in a patriotic manner.
The President affirmed that the green and white flag, designed by Pa Akinkunmi, has consistently symbolized the nation’s abundance, resilience, and unity.
Tinubu expressed his belief that Pa Akinkunmi had lived and worked for the nation’s progress and that he now rests eternally in a place of honor within Nigeria’s history.
As reported by Punch earlier, Pa Akinwumi hailed from Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun state. He was born on May 10, 1936. He attended Baptist Day Secondary School in Ibadan for his primary education and Ibadan Grammar School for his secondary education. After joining the civil service at the Secretariat in Ibadan, he pursued further studies in Agricultural Engineering at Norway Technical College.
During his time abroad, in 1958, Pa Akinkunmi came across an advertisement in a national newspaper inviting designs for the Nigerian national flag in anticipation of the country’s impending independence from British rule. He promptly embarked on creating his design, which was eventually selected as the best among approximately 2000 entries submitted.
The initial design of the flag featured a white band flanked by two green ones, with a red sun accompanied by radiating rays placed on the white band. The overseeing committee later removed the sun to finalize the present design of the flag.
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