Two years after the passing of Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man who designed Nigeria’s national flag, the Federal Government has presented his family with a financial donation of N30 million. While the gesture was acknowledged by his relatives, it has also reignited criticism over the government’s failure to fulfill its earlier promise of a state burial for the national hero.
Pa Akinkunmi died on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87. Following his death, the Nigerian government pledged to honour him with a national burial, recognizing his significant contribution to the country’s identity. However, when his funeral was eventually conducted on September 6, 2024, it was without the state honours his family had been promised.
The government’s donation was presented on Thursday at Akinkunmi’s residence in Elebu, Ibadan, by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu. He was accompanied by the Oyo State Director of the agency, Olukemi Afolayan.
Speaking at the event, Issa-Onilu stated that the financial support was not meant to be a payment for Akinkunmi’s service to the country but rather a token of appreciation.
“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 appreciation of his contributions to the country,” he said.
A National Hero Without a State Burial
Akinkunmi, who was widely known as “Mr. Flag Man,” designed the Nigerian flag in 1958 at the age of 23, while studying electrical engineering at Norwood Technical College in London. His green-and-white flag design was selected from nearly 2,000 entries in a national competition, earning him a £100 award. The design has remained a powerful symbol of Nigerian sovereignty since it was first hoisted on October 1, 1960, when the country gained independence from Britain.
In recognition of his role in shaping Nigeria’s identity, Akinkunmi was awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2014. However, despite his revered status, the government’s handling of his final rites has been widely condemned.
In the months following his death, the Tinubu administration publicly committed to organizing a state burial for him. This promise was made on September 4, 2023, when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, visited the family to convey President Bola Tinubu’s condolences.
However, when the time came, the government was conspicuously absent from the burial proceedings, leaving the family to proceed with the funeral on their own. The burial was eventually conducted by ministers from the Gospel Faith Mission International, without any official participation from the Nigerian government.
Atiku Abubakar Slams Tinubu Administration
The failure to deliver on the state burial promise has sparked outrage among many Nigerians, with prominent political figures weighing in on the controversy.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among those who criticized the Tinubu administration for its failure to honour Akinkunmi with a state burial. Taking to social media, Atiku expressed his disappointment, describing the government’s actions as dishonourable.
“I am immensely disheartened that the Federal Government under Tinubu’s administration has failed to bestow upon the late Michael Akinkunmi, the creator of our national flag, the state burial he was so rightfully promised,” Atiku wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“No other patriot embodies the spirit of honour and sacrifice as profoundly as the revered ‘Mr. Flag Man,’” he added.
Atiku’s comments were made in response to a BBC interview with Akinkunmi’s son, Akinwunmi, who revealed that the family had long given up hope of receiving the state burial that had been promised.
For many, the government’s decision to provide financial compensation rather than fulfilling its original pledge raises questions about its commitment to honouring national figures who have contributed immensely to Nigeria’s history.
Public Reaction and Debate
The N30 million donation has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether it was an adequate replacement for the state burial. While some view the financial support as a meaningful gesture, others argue that it cannot compensate for what they see as a broken promise and a lack of respect for Akinkunmi’s legacy.
“The government had one job: to give Mr. Flag Man the honour he deserved. Now, they’re throwing money at the family to cover up their failure,” one social media user posted.
Another commented, “Nigeria is always quick to celebrate people when they’re alive, but when it’s time to honour them properly, we see excuses.”
Some have also pointed out that the handling of Akinkunmi’s burial is indicative of a broader issue in Nigeria, where the contributions of national heroes are often overlooked once they pass away.
“Nigeria has a long history of neglecting its heroes. From our war veterans to our artists, the pattern is the same. We must do better,” another user wrote.
