The name “Taiwo Akinkunmi” will forever remain evergreen in the history of Nigeria because of his immense contributions in the making of “the most populous black Nation” called Nigeria by designing a befitting flag that eventually granted us independence in the year 1960. At 73, Akinkunmi’s passion and love for fatherland is still very high and this could be seen in the ways and manners he speaks and dress. No matter what, Akinkunmi will always want to appear in white and green colour which serves as the colour of Nigeria flag that he painstakingly designed in 1958 when he was a student of Norwich Technical College in United Kingdom.
Akinkunmi should be living big and enjoying the sweetness of his contribution to his fatherland by now but the reverse is the case. Even when I’m going in the street, I’m not been noticed, he lamented. The case of Akinkunmi could be likened to the parable of the “horse tail” just like the popular Yoruba nphilosophical saying that ‘the honour the horse did not enjoy, its tale would enjoy it’ or how can we describe the man who designed the material being used by all and sundry in Nigeria and with the designer not recognized. Nearly everybody make use of Nigerian flag everyday because it is engraved in all our naira notes we spend as well as our vehicle’s plate number, it is always hanged in our banks and parastatals, National Assembly and even in the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Also we should not forget that the African Telecommunications giant ‘Globacom’ cuts its colour green from the flag of Nigeria and most of our big footballers today have in one time or the other wore(some are still wearing it) the jersey of Nigeria which was fashioned in green white green designed by Akinkunmi. It is so unfortunate that our leaders did not see anything worthwhile in honouring Akinkunmi with even the smallest of all National Award in Nigeria when they (themselves) are sharing it among themselves and others who doesn’t have a perceptible contribution to this Nation. If the labour of our heroes past should not be in vain, I think our present heroes too should be taken care of , we should not fold our arms and allow them to die before we now honour them posthumously.
Olaniran, Olawale Sunday is the author of the popular book ‘Nigeria So Far’. He can be reached on (234) 07033955770 and (234) 08054031719.
E-mail: xundey22@yahoo.com
Website: www.olawaleolaniran.blogspot.com
