60 Minutes with the Man Who Designed Nigerian
Flag....
As a student, he went through the tutelage of late
Pa Emmanuel Alayande and also retired as
Assistant Superintendent of Agriculture in the Oyo
State ministry. But Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi
would be remembered as a national icon who
designed Nigerian flag in 1959 when he was barely
23. Though, an unsung Nigerian hero, FUNKE
OLAODE caught up with Pa Akinkunmi at his
Ibadan Oyo State home and unveils the man whose
name has become synonymous with the national
symbol
Growing up in a polygamous setting
I was born in May 1936 in Ibadan, Oyo State in the
then Western Region to the family of the late Pa
Akinkunmi. When I was born, my father was
working in a foreign firm, PZ in the North while my
mother was a petty trader. He was a polygamist
with three wives and 10 children. Among my
father’s 10 children, my mother had three. So it
was interesting growing up in a polygamous
setting. Ironically, we didn’t experience acrimony
associated with polygamy because my father, as
the head of the family was in charge. What really
helped was that the children didn’t grow up
together because by the time I was getting older,
some had finished secondary school and moved to
Lagos to seek for greener pasture. So, with an
educated father, going to school wasn’t a problem.
My father retired from his work while I was still a
toddler but still played his role well as a father in
ensuring that our school fees were paid on time.
Apart from his pension, which he collected at his
retirement, he was a very wise man who invested
heavily in property. With that, he was able to
sustain his family.
Early education
I began my early education in the North. After my
father’s retirement, he came down to the West and
I was re-enrolled at Baptist Day School, IdI-Ikan in
Ibadan. Coming to Ibadan was a great relief
because of the harsh condition in the North. As
kids, we coped well. I finished from Baptist Day
School in 1949.
Memorable childhood events
We were still in the North when the war broke out
but still experienced a bit of it. Every child that was
born in my era would have recollection of the
second world war of 1939 to 1945. I was about
three years when the war broke out. So, I wasn’t
conscious of that era. By the time it ended in 1945,
I was about nine years and I had a vivid recollection
of how soldiers were being drafted to the war or
kept vigil in many parts of the town. When it was
tensed, we would ask to stay at a particular
location. We experienced that till the war ended.
I didn’t play pranks as a kid
I couldn’t afford to display any youthful exuberance
because my father was a disciplinarian. He was so
disciplined that he didn’t indulge us or spare the
rod. And if you wanted to proof stubborn, he
always had his cane at his disposal and one gets
slashed. In a way, this put us in check not to play
pranks. Nevertheless, we usually engaged in one or
two. For instance, whenever we were asked to
fetch water; we would go to flowing streams at the
end of the town pretending that we were looking
for clean water. In the process, we would use the
opportunity to swim. Coming home would be a
problem because our red eyes would give us away.
As kids, we had a way of escaping my parent’s
wrath.
Schooling
I finished from Baptist Day School Idi-kan in 1949
and proceeded to Ibadan Grammar School (IGS) in
1950. IGS was a mini Nigeria because people came
from all over the country. I met the likes of Chief
Sokan, Mr. Williams, Goodie Ibru, and the late Chief
Dr. Omonigbeyin and so on. It was a highly
competitive school and I was privileged to be
among the ‘privileged’. I was lucky that my father
was well established because he was able to take
care of my school fees. As said earlier, he had
properties and he appointed caretakers to look and
monitor them. The money accrued at the end of
the day was able to take care for our needs as
students. It was interesting to be tutored and
groomed under our principal then, the late Papa
Alayande who took over from Bishop Akinyele, the
founder of the school. Pa Alayande was a good and
committed teacher. He was a disciplinarian who
always wanted the best for his students. And when
you look at the caliber of people who went through
IGS all of them turned out well. Again, some of our
teachers were expatriates. With Pa Alayande
coupled with their (expatriates) efforts, we enjoyed
the best of education of that era.
Beginning a career
I left IGS in 1955 to chart a career path for myself.
I took appointment as an agriculturist at the
Western Region Secretariat in Ibadan as a civil
servant. Although, I wanted to go further but there
was no money to pursue such luxury of higher
learning. After working for a few years, there was
this yearning for higher education which I pursued.
I had the privilege to travel abroad and attended
Norwood Technical College in London where I
studied electrical engineering. You would wonder
what an agriculturist was doing in engineering…wel
l, they both fall under science. My certificate
actually gave me the intuition to go into
engineering as a science student. So, I was excited
when I finally secured admission to go to England
which was another terrain. Coming from Ibadan, an
ancient city, I was blown away with the level of
infrastructural development and at the same time I
exercised caution. It was a cold environment but I
was able to cope because I was in good health and
we saw the opportunity of a sound education,
which foundation had been laid back home at IGS.
We had good teachers. As a matter of fact, a
couple of them were expatriates. So, schooling in
London was like an extension of my secondary
school. You know at IGS, we had adapted to them
teaching us through the nose. So we didn’t find it
difficult to comprehend what we were being taught
and didn’t find it strange when academic
commenced in a foreign land.
Coming back to Nigeria from England
There was opportunity to stay back in England
after my studies, but there was this spirit of
patriotism in people like us to come back home.
After my training at Norwood Technical College,
London, I returned to Nigeria in 1963 and went
back to the agricultural department at the
secretariat in Ibadan to continue where I stopped. I
coped very well as a returnee because there was
this urge to contribute one’s quota to the
development of the state and Nigeria at large. I
worked as a civil servant till 1994 and retired as
Assistant Superintendent of Agric.
Designing Nigeria’s Flag
I was in England when I got involved in what
stands me out today as ‘Mr. Flag Man’. I was in the
Library when I saw an advertisement in Daily Times
(Nigerian Newspaper) in the late 50s. I saw this
advertisement looking for somebody to design
National Flag which would be used for
independence celebration in Nigeria in October
1960. I took part in the competition and sent it to
Nigeria. My entry was dropped at the then
legislative chambers, the Tafawa Balewa now Race
Course. Fortunately, my design was picked among
2000 participants from all over. Few weeks later, a
letter was sent to me in England that my design
won. I felt elated and on top of the world that I had
done something significant for my country. When
you are talking about inspiration, I can tell you that
God is the greatest inspirator. But designing an
acceptable design that is still being used 53 years
on was borne out of my experience as a Nigerian.
One couldn’t have expected a science student to
be able to come up with such design that has
become a national symbol. I was a science student
who was involved in technical drawing of
equipment. Also, my observation back home, going
to school and later going to work and my day-to-
day activities actually helped me. The people I lived
with during my school days coupled with my
experience as an artist helped me to be able to
fabricate that design.
I won 100 pounds for designing Nigeria’s flag
I sent in my entry to Nigeria and moved on with my
studies in England. I was surprised, elated and
excited when my name was announced as the
winner. I was about 23 years old and it was such a
great honour for me. Actually, I didn’t know I would
win. I won a prize of a hundred pounds. The
presentation was carried out at the Nigerian
embassy in London. And it has been in use since
then. But here I am at 77, I have not been
recognized or given national honour beyond a 100
pounds received 53 years ago in London. The only
time I was remembered was in 2010 when Nigeria
celebrated her Golden Jubilee. I was among the 50
nominees that President Goodluck Jonathan
presented with a Gold Medal and a certificate.
There was a time a group of students honoured me
and added MON in front of my name in the posters.
I was embarrassed and I came out that I have not
been giving a MON or national recognition. I am
happy that in my life time I am still being
celebrated by people who felt I have contributed to
my country. Recently, August 23rd to be precise,
the Nigeria-Britain Association celebrated me in
Lagos in appreciation of my involvement with
regards to the designing of the Nigerian flag years
ago. In attendance were Mrs. Francesca Emanuel
CON, Chief Keith Richards, MD of Promasidor Nigeria
Limited, Mr. Mike Purves, director United Kingdom
Trade and Investment amongst others. Mr. Ed
Keazor, a blogger and historian gave a presentation
of my life. I was humbled that someone somewhere
still cares. Nevertheless, the best moment of my life
was still that exciting moment when my name was
announced as the winner of Nigeria’s flag. It was a
feat for me.
Getting personal
I came back to Nigeria in 1963 and in 1964 I went
back to the secretariat and settled down as a civil
servant. I was about 27 years when I came back,
matured, had a regular income and there was this
urge to start my own family. There was a young
damsel who caught my fancy. Her name was
Kudirat. She was a trader, selling kitchen utensils
and materials. As a returnee I tried one or two
educated ladies but I didn’t succeed. But one thing
I realised in life is that in all facets of life (even
beyond marriage) knowing what suits you. I
courted her and we got married. The marriage is
blessed with children. Some have graduated while
some are still schooling.
Fulfilling life’s aspiration
Can any man fulfill life’s aspirations? My answer is
no because we all aspire for greater things. I went
to school, got a job, and have my family to interact
with. In my case, I think to some degree, I can say
well done. I thank God for playing a vital role in my
life, passing through Nigeria and making an
impact. Whether national recognition or not, I am
sure when the names of Nigeria’s heroes are being
mentioned, my name will be conspicuously
present.