A TOAST TO MR. NIGERIA ‘TAIWO AKINKUNMI’: THE NIGERIA’S FLAG DESIGNER AT 77

And there was a great man born in a great country where human and material resources were deposited in great measure. When this man was born, none of his family members thought he could command such national relevance by what he used his hand to craft for his fatherland. Though, not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, this man initiated and developed a material that is being used by his country-men to procure not only silver but gold in many competitions. His design is an indispensable piece that must appear in every State and National Houses of Assembly in the country, government houses, schools, government parastatals and even vehicles’ plate numbers on daily basis. This man is no other person but Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the Nigeria flag designer.

Born on the 10th of May, 1936 in Owu, Abeokuta the capital of Ogun State Nigeria. Taiwo Akinkunmi attended the Baptist Day School and Ibadan Grammar School, both in Ibadan, for his primary and secondary education before joining the old Western Region’s government as a clerical officer in the civil service after which he proceeded to the United Kingdom to further his studies. It was during his study abroad that Akinkunmi had the opportunity to write his name on the sand of history and he did not fail to do so. Prior to Nigeria’s independence, Akinkunmi was resident in London as a student of Norwich Technical College in West Norwich when he saw an advertisement in the newspaper of a competition for the design of national flag for independence celebration of his dear country. He became interested and took part in the grand contest for the design of the national flag as independence beckoned and emerged the winner of the keenly contested competition, over 2000 entry was received by the British Colonial administration. The reason for his emergence as winner is simple; his imaginative presentation of the Green -White-Green flag was quite meaningful. The green symbolises the nation’s prospects, particularly her rich agricultural endowments just as the white portrays unity and peace. On completion of his education in Britain, he returned to Nigeria in 1964 and had a civil service career in the then Western Region, where he worked in the Ministry of Agriculture from where he retired in 1994.

Though Akinkunmi who played such notable role in carving a lasting Nigerian identity lives as a commoner in a remote area of Ibadan. There is no motorable road leading to Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi’s house at Molade area as we talk. And even if there is a motorable road, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi does not have a car. At the age of 77, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi has to walk a distance of about 2 kilometres to reach the main road where he can get transportation to his destination, yet he will not speak a negative word against his country; he is always optimistic of the great and better Nigeria where every citizen will have the fair share of the milk and honey flowing on their land.

In my several interviews with Pa. Akinkunmi (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013) he lamented on the pitiable state of the country adjudged to be the giant of Africa, despite her abundant human and natural resources. Every Nigerians had the dream of a country where they will experience good governance, fairness and rule of law in all its ramifications with security and social justice being uppermost in the agenda of the leadership but the reverse is the case. Things are not going the way people expected. Our leaders should have the fear of God for the country to be able to attain great heights among the comity of nations, he said.

Regardless of his current circumstances, Akinkunmi’s position in the history of Nigeria is an enviable one because he has made a unique contribution to its progress and development. The fact that he deserved to be celebrated nationwide on the occasion of his 77th birthday celebration on earth cannot be disputed. Therefore, Ladies and gentlemen, please join me as I raise a toast to an icon and a record-breaker of our time, Pa. Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, as he clocks 77 this Friday 10th May, 2013.
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OLAWALE S. OLANIRAN can be reached on twitter @xundey22 and BBM - 22666BFB