Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has released funds for the burial of Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of Nigeria’s national flag, according to a statement from the Akinkunmi family spokesperson, Samuel Akinkunmi, on Friday.
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Pa Akinkunmi, originally from Abeokuta in Ogun State, resided in Ibadan, Oyo State, until his death on August 29, 2023.
His design was selected in 1958 as the winning entry in a competition to create a new national flag for Nigeria.
The family’s statement expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde, noting that despite promises from both federal and state governments, the burial had been delayed.
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The federal government had previously sent a delegation led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, who pledged federal support for the burial.
Similarly, the Oyo State government had promised assistance.
However, when the family attempted to finalize burial arrangements, these promises were not immediately fulfilled.
As a result, the family prepared to proceed with the burial independently.
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The family expressed appreciation for Governor Makinde’s fulfillment of his promise and acknowledged the support from the 7th assembly, the Oyo State Advisory Council, and the Yoruba World Congress UK.
The statement concluded with a call for the federal government to honor its commitment, highlighting ongoing support efforts by the Yoruba World Congress UK, which had publicly addressed the matter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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“Although the Presidency is yet to fulfil its promise at the time of this correspondence, we are grateful for Governor Makinde’s intervention and the support we have received,” Samuel Akinkunmi added.
