Designer of The National Flag Mr Taiwo Akinkunmi, Placed On Lifetime Salary

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday placed Mr Taiwo Akinkunmi, designer of the National Flag, on lifetime salary as Special Assistant to the President.

Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi would be remembered as a national icon who designed Nigerian flag in 1959 when he was barely 23.

Early years and education
He was born in May 1936 in Ibadan, Oyo State in the then Western Region to the family of the late Pa Akinkunmi.


Akinkunmi began his early education in the North. After his father’s retirement, he came down to the West and was re-enrolled at Baptist Day School, IdI-Ikan in Ibadan.

After he finished from Baptist Day School Idi-kan in 1949, he proceeded to Ibadan Grammar School (IGS) in 1950. IGS

He later left IGS in 1955 to chart a career path for himself. He took appointment as an agriculturist at the Western Region Secretariat in Ibadan as a civil servant.

Akinkunmi later travelled abroad and attended Norwood Technical College in London where he studied electrical engineering.

There was opportunity to stay back in England after his studies, but there was this spirit of patriotism to come back home. After his training at Norwood Technical College, London, he returned to Nigeria in 1963 and went back to the agricultural department at the secretariat in Ibadan to continue where he stopped.

Designing Nigeria’s Flag

Pa Akinkunmi was in England when he got involved in what stands him out today as ‘Mr. Flag Man’.

He was in the Library when he saw an advertisement in Daily Times (Nigerian Newspaper) in the late 50s. He saw this advertisement looking for somebody to design National Flag which would be used for independence celebration in Nigeria in October 1960.

He took part in the competition and sent it to Nigeria. His entry was dropped at the then legislative chambers, the Tafawa Balewa now Race Course. Fortunately, his design was picked among 2000 participants from all over.

Few weeks later, a letter was sent to me him in England that his design won.

One couldn’t have expected a science student to be able to come up with such design that has become a national symbol for 54 years.

He felt elated and on top of the world that he had done something significant for his country.

He also regarded God as the greatest inspiration.

NigeriaEye