President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has donated N30 million to the family of renowned national flag designer, late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi. The donation is coming two years after the death of Pa Akinkunmi on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87.
Akinkunmi’s death was announced by one of his sons, who revealed that the octogenarian died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 29, 2023, in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital
The deceased’s son extolled the good life that the octogenarian had lived and wished him peace beyond. The cheque was presented at the Ibadan residence of the late National hero on Thursday, January 30, 2025. As reported by The Punch, The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, accompanied by the Oyo State Director of the agency, Olukemi Afolayan, made the official presentation. President Bola Tinubu had pledged to give the late Pa Akinkunmi a national burial and financial support to the family.
Tinubu made the promise when he sent a delegation led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, on a condolence visit. Issa-Onilu said: “The donation of N30 million to the family of renowned National Flag designer was not to pay for the services of the late legend but to support his family in appreciation of his contributions to the country.”
One of the deceased sons, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the kind gesture and for remembering the family after the death of their father. Who is Taiwo Akinkunmi? The octogenarian had primary education at the Baptist Day Secondary School, Ibadan, and attended the Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, for his Secondary education. Pa Akinkunmi started his career at the secretariat of Ibadan as a civil servant before traveling abroad to study at the Norway Technical College, where he obtained a BSc in Agricultural Engineering.
While in school overseas, Akinkunmi saw an advertorial in a national daily in 1958, where submissions for the Nigerian national flag were called for as the country was about to get independence from the British government. His entry was considered the best of all the entries that were received for submission in that year.