Makinde Releases Funds For Burial Of Akinkunmi, Designer Of Nigerian Flag

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde on Friday released funds for the burial of late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of Nigeria’s flag.

Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State, lived in Ibadan, Oyo State until he died on 29th August 2023.

It would be recalled that Pa Akinkunmi’s flag design was selected as the best in the year 1958 amongst all the presented designs during a competition to get a new national flag design for the country.

New Telegraph reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, led a delegation of the Federal Government to visit the family of Late Pa Akinkunmi in Ibadan and promised that the Nigerian government would stand by the family.

This family made this declaration via a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Samuel Akinkunmi.

“This is to notify the general public that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has released funds for the burial of our patriarch.

“He died in August last year and he has not been buried as of today. The reasons are not far-fetched. The federal government sent a representative led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris. He promised us that the federal government would sponsor the burial. Also, the Oyo State government pledged to support the burial.

“At a time when we fixed dates, we approached them and they were not forthcoming. We decided to bury him on our own and they said we should not do that at the time. But to God be the glory, Governor Seyi Makinde has fulfilled his promise. We wish to thank him, members of the 7th assembly, members of the Oyo State Advisory Council and everyone who took the matter up.

“We also want to thank Yoruba World Congress UK for their support. They wrote an open letter to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenging the Nigerian government and the Oyo state government for their neglect. Although the Presidency is yet to fulfil its promise at the time of this correspondence.