Pa Akinkunmi
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…well, 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...
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