CITIZENS COMPASS–After a year of endless wait on the Federal Government, the family of the designer of the Nigerian flag, Taiwo Akinkunmi, on Friday, buried him in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The remains of the designer of the Nigerian flag were interred after a funeral service held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Speaking at the burial, the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, described the designer of the Nigerian flag as a national figure.
He said that the burial of the designer of the Nigerian flag should have been a Federal Government affair, rather than being left to the deceased family and the Oyo State government.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, on behalf of the State government described the burial of the designer of the Nigerian flag saying, “The commemoration of the death of an iconic figure like Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, who designed the Nigerian flag 64 years ago at the age of 23, should be treated as a national festival.
“The fact that Pa Akinkunmi hailed from this part of the country does not diminish his status as a national hero.”
In his sermons, the National Secretary, the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Pastor Femi Omowumi, said the designer of the Nigerian flag had demonstrated the fact that one could contribute to national development without necessarily holding a political office.
The son to the deceased, Akinkunmi Akinwumi, said the family was open to any manner the Federal Government deemed fit to immortalise their father.
Present at the occasion were members of the Oyo State cabinet; members of the state advisory council; former Oyo Assembly lawmaker, Honourable Ibrahim Bolomope; GOFAMINT members; personnel of various security agencies, the national choir, students of Akinkunmi’s alma mater family members, among others.
