Akinkunmi, Nigerian flag designer, given low-key burial after family’s futile one year wait for State Funeral

The family of the Nigerian flag designer, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, on Friday finally laid him to rest after a year-long wait for a promised state funeral.

Akinkunmi, who passed away at 87 in 2023, was celebrated for his iconic contribution to the nation.

His funeral service, supported by the Oyo State Government, was  attended by a large gathering of mourners, including family, friends, and government officials.

The ceremony paid tribute to Akinkunmi’s lasting legacy in shaping a symbol of national unity and pride.

The funeral service was conducted by ministers from the Gospel Faith Mission International.

Akinkunmi, fondly known as “Mr. Flag Man,” designed the Nigerian flag in 1958 and received a £100 award for his chosen design.

This paper had also reported how former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had berated the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government over its failure to fulfil its promise to give Taiwo Michael Akinkunmi a befitting state burial after one year of his death.

Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 general elections, said he was “immensely disheartened” that the Nigerian government failed to fulfilthe promise of a state burial rightfully promised Akinkunmi’s family.

Reacting to a report by the BBC where Akinkunmi’s son, Akinwumi said that the family had abandoned the hope of the promised state burial of their father after one year, Atiku in a post on X noted that no other patriot embodied the spirit of honour and sacrifice as profoundly as Akinkunmi who was reverred 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.’”

What is a State Burial?

A state burial, also known as a state funeral, is a ceremonial event held to honor and pay respects to a deceased person of national significance, such as a head of state, prominent politician, or renowned public figure.

The ceremony is typically organized and funded by the government and involves various rituals, traditions, and protocol.

State burials are reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation, such as:

– Heads of state or government
– Prominent politicians or public servants
– National heroes or heroines
– Renowned artists, writers, or cultural icons
– Distinguished military leaders or veterans

The ceremony serves as a way for the nation to come together, pay respects, and honor the deceased person’s legacy.

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