In a show of appreciation, the Federal Government on Thursday donated N30 million to the family of the designer of Nigeria’s national flag, late Taiwo Akinkunmi.
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, along with the Oyo State Director of the agency, Olukemi Afolayan presented the donation to the family at his residence in Elebu, Ibadan, on Thursday.
Issa-Onilu clarified that the N30 million donation was not intended to compensate for the late Akinkunmi’s services but to support his family in recognition of his monumental contributions to Nigeria.
“I am aware, even though I wasn’t appointed Director General of the NOA at that time, that the President gave a directive that this place should be visited and that the government must commiserate with this great Nigerian, and the Minister of Information with the then Director General of NOA came to commiserate with the family.
“The transition which led to my appointment and resumption, delayed the process of finalising the effort at showing appreciation to the family.
“Donation of N30m to the family of the renowned national flag designer was not to pay for the services of the late legend but to support his family in appreciation of his contributions to the country,” Issa-Onilu said.
One of the patriot’s sons, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi, expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the gesture.
The late flag designer, Akinkunmi died on August 29, 2023, at the age of 87.
Following his death, President Tinubu sent a government delegation, led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, to offer condolences.
Akinkunmi was buried in Ibadan, Oyo State capital in September 2024 after one year of waiting for the government to organise a befitting burial.
The funeral service was held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Akinwunmi, while speaking at the service, said the family was open to any manner the Federal Government deemed fit to immortalise the flag designer.
