The Federal Government has donated ₦30 million to the family of the late Taiwo Akinkunmi, the visionary designer of Nigeria’s national flag, in recognition of his monumental contributions to the nation.
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The donation was formally presented on Thursday at Akinkunmi’s residence in Elebu, Ibadan, by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, who was accompanied by the agency’s Oyo State Director, Olukemi Afolayan.
Issa-Onilu clarified that the ₦30 million grant was not a payment for the late Akinkunmi’s services but a show of support for his family, acknowledging his enduring legacy in shaping Nigeria’s identity.
Reacting to the government’s gesture, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi, one of the late designer’s sons, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the financial support and recognition of his father’s work.
Taiwo Akinkunmi passed away on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87. Following his demise, President Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation, led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, to pay respects to the family.
Despite Akinkunmi’s immense national significance, his burial was delayed for a year as the family awaited government support to give him a befitting farewell.
He was finally laid to rest in September 2024 in Ibadan, Oyo State. The funeral service took place at the historic Obafemi Awolowo Stadium on Liberty Road, Ibadan, with dignitaries, government representatives, and admirers in attendance.
During the service, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi stated that the family was open to any form of recognition the Federal Government deemed fit to further immortalize the late flag designer.
Many Nigerians have since called on the government to honor Akinkunmi’s legacy by institutionalizing his name in national monuments, currency, or educational institutions.