Immortalize Our Father, Late Pa Akinkunmi’s Children Tell Federal Government

Oluwakemi Kindness

The family of late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, designer of the Nigerian national flag, are calling for the prompt immortalization of their late father as promised by the Government.

One of the late icon’s sons, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi, stated this when the Federal Government fullfilled it promised donation of thirty million naira to the family.

The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, presented the cheque to the family at their residence in Elebu, Ibadan accompanied by the Oyo State Director of NOA, Olukemi Afolayan.

Speaking during the presentation, Issa-Onilu emphasized that the financial support is not a payment for the late Akinkunmi’s service but an appreciation of his contributions to the nation.

“The donation of N30 million to the family of the renowned National Flag designer was not to pay for the services of the late legend but to support his family in recognition of his contributions to the country,” he stated.

Responding on behalf of the family, one of late Pa Akinkunmi’s son, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the kind gesture.

He expressed appreciation to Federal Government of Nigeria for not reneging on its promise by honouring the memory of their Patriarch, despite the fact that the Oyo State Government had earlier given their father Icon a befitting burial.

Akinwunmi ceased the occasion to urge the Government to “promptly immortalize Late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi as moved at the Senate by the Senator representing Oyo South senatorial district, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, and backed up by Senator Abdulfatah Buhari and Senator Yunus Akintunde, as well as the Minister of Information and National Orientation during his condolence visit to the deceased’s family”.

He also appealed that the children of the deceased be fixed into government employment, as this will spur patriotism in many Nigerians and teach the younger generations on the need to be committed to their fatherland.

” Once again, we express our heartfelt appreciation for this timely and thoughtful support extended to us.  It truly reflects the government’s commitment to honouring the legacy of our late father who is an icon and ensuring the well-being of his family”. Engr. Akinkunmi Akinwumi said.

Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi passed away at the age of 87 on August 29, 2023. After a prolonged wait for government support, he was finally laid to rest in September 2024 at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.

Following his death, President Tinubu had on September 4, 2023, sent a high-powered delegation led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, to condole with the family.

The late Akinkunmi designed the Nigerian national flag in 1959, a symbol that has since become an enduring representation of the nation’s identity