Federal Govt Donates N30Million To Family Of Nigeria’s Flag Designer Akinkunmi After Reneging On State Burial Promise
Pa Akinkunmi died on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87.
Two years after the demise of the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man who designed Nigeria’s national flag, the Nigerian Government has compensated his family.
Pa Akinkunmi died on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87.
This financial donation follows the government’s pledge on September 4, 2023, made during a condolence visit led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, at the behest of President Bola Tinubu.
The government had promised a national burial and financial support for the late Nigerian hero’s family. However, at Thursday’s presentation, the government donated N30 million to the family. SaharaReporters previously noted that the government had reneged on its promise for a national burial for the hero.
The presentation of the cheque to the family was made by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Nigerian Flag Designer, Taiwo Akinkunmi, Finally Laid To Rest Without State Burial
He was accompanied by the Oyo State Director of the agency, Olukemi Afolayan, to the residence of the late national hero at Elebu, Ibadan on Thursday.
The NOA DG 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.”
Akinwunmi, one of the sons of the late Akinkunmi, expressed gratitude to Tinubu for the gesture.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the government reneged on a state funeral service after his burial was conducted by ministers from the Gospel Faith Mission International.
Akinkunmi, affectionately known as “Mr. Flag Man,” designed the Nigerian flag in 1958 and received a £100 award for his chosen design.
SaharaReporters also noted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to fulfill its promise to give Akinkunmi a befitting state burial.
Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he was “immensely disheartened” that the Nigerian government failed to fulfill the promise of a state burial rightfully promised Akinkunmi’s family.
In response to a BBC report where Akinkunmi’s son, Akinwunmi, said the family had given up hope on the promised state burial for their father after one year, Atiku posted on X, stating that no other patriot embodied the spirit of honor and sacrifice as profoundly as Akinkunmi, who was revered as “Mr. Flag Man.”
The former Vice President wrote, “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.
“No other patriot embodies the spirit of honour and sacrifice as profoundly as the revered ‘Mr. Flag Man.’”
