From MONSURAT ADEYEMI, Ibadan
The Oyo State government has described the Nigerian flag designer, the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, as a pride to the country and the world at large, assuring that his legacy will remain forever.
In his remarks at the funeral service of Pa Akinkunmi held today, Friday, September 6, at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State Acting Governor, Mr. Bayo Lawal, eulogised the late patriot as the pride of Oyo State, Nigeria and the world at large, for his vision and creativity in designing the Nigerian flag that is flown high in all Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions and which, even more importantly, remains about the only symbol of the country that has endured the wear and tear of the nation’s fractious politics.
Daily Query correspondent in Ibadan, MONSURAT ADEYEMI reports that the Nigerian flag designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi was officially adopted to represent Nigeria at midnight on 1 October 1960, the day the country gained political independence from Great Britain, after the lowering of the Union Jack, 60 years after Britain colonised and ruled over Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the flag was chosen as part of a nationwide open contest held by the government, with Akinkunmi’s design being selected as the winner out of over 3,00 entries.
It is a vertical bicolour green-white-green design, with the green representing Nigeria’s vast agricultural resources and white the peace and unity of the land and people.
According to a brief on the flag by Wikipdia, as part of the preparations for the country’s independence, a national planning committee was established which set a competition to select a national flag in 1958.
In 1959, out of almost 3,000 entries, the late Pa Akinkunmi won the competition with an equal green-white-green with a red quarter sun on the white stripe.
After acceptance, the committee removed the red quarter sun, leaving the accepted flag with a simple vertical bicolour green-white-green that has remained the generally acceptable symbol of Nigeria’s unity since 1960.
On 1 October 1960, the flag came into effect as the first official flag of an independent Nigeria and was raised for the first time in a ceremony by the late Lieutenant David Akpode Ejoor who died in 2019 as a retired General of the Nigerian Army.
Continuing, Ag. Governor Lawal said the flag, as an enduring legacy for Nigeria, would remain as one as long as Nigeria remains united, stressing that the flag would continue to serve as a reminder to Nigerians across the globe that Nigeria and Nigerians are better united.
“The green embodies agriculture and vast natural resources that we have in Nigeria, while the White symbolises peace, tranquillity and calmness,” Lawal enthused.
“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, however, urged the federal government to ensure that the legacy of the deceased is duly recognised and immortalized, stating that the federal government must, as a mark of honour, be actively involved in, and not leave Akinkunmi’s burial to his family and Oyo State government alone.
In his sermon, General Overseer, Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Pastor Elijah Abina reminded everyone present at the solemn ceremony that the race of life is an individual one and everyone must contribute their personal quotas towards the development and progress of their immediate environment and Nigeria as a whole.
Abina, who was represented by the General Secretary of GOFAMINT, Pastor Solomon Omowumi, eulogised Akinkunmi for a worthy life lived in service of God and humanity, pointing out that although he was not a political officeholder in his lifetime, the late Pa Akinkunmi left a legacy no, or at least, not many politicians would leave for Nigeria.
To that end, Abina urged everyone to play their part in the upliftment of humanity, saying individual contributions to the nation would definitely enhance the growth of Nigeria.
In his vote of thanks, the deceased’s son, Mr. Akinwumi Akinkunmi, thanked the Oyo State Government for its contributions to the successful burial of his father, disclosing, however, that the family was yet to receive any assistance from the federal government as at the time of this report at 5.08pm.