Nigerian flag designer, Michael Akinkunmi to be buried after waiting a year for state burial

This week, Taiwo Michael Akinkunmi, the man who designed the Nigerian flag, will be laid to rest in his native state of Oyo.

This is one year after his death at the age of 87. The reason for the delay was that a state funeral for him had been promised by the federal government.

But no plans have ever been established. Additionally, Akinkunmi’s family was spending N2,000 a day to keep the body in a morgue while they waited.

The son of the flag designer stated that they learned in June that the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) of the Arts Ministry was tasked with organizing the official burial.

However, he claimed that the institution had not been in touch with him again after that one phone contact.

He feels waiting any longer would just sully his father’s name.

Oyo govt steps in
Now, the Oyo State government has stepped in to fund the burial rites for the flag designer.

Recall that it was not until Nigeria celebrated its 50th year of independence that Akinkunmi was recognised as one of 50 distinguished Nigerians.

His son says an Oyo state politician later lobbied for him to be given a national honour and pension. And in 2014 he was made an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), one of Nigeria’s highest awards.

After Akinkunmi’s death last year, a senator sponsored a successful motion that he be given a state burial.

It’s this state burial the Federal Government promised that has now been taken over buy the state government for Akinkunmi, known by many as “Mr Flag Man”. BBC