Akinwunmi is a son of Taiwo Akinkunmi, who designed the Nigerian flag. He tells ARUKAINO UMUKORO about his father
Please introduce yourself.
I am Akinwunmi, the fourth son of Taiwo Akinkunmi. I just earned a National Diploma from the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State. I studied Building Technology.
How do you feel about the recognition given your dad by President Goodluck Jonathan during the recent national honours ceremony in Abuja?
I am so happy about the award because we have been expecting such recognition for several years. And that day, God answered our prayers. I am so grateful to Him. My father was very happy. At first, it was difficult for him to believe he was the one being given a national honour by the President. In fact, he was not even expecting it. He just said, okay, let’s go and see what would happen. He was really glad about the whole ceremony and said at last, he was recognised. The whole family was extremely happy about the honour and gave thanks to God. Everyone felt he should have been honoured long before now. My sister and I were in Abuja with him.
How did he feel meeting President Jonathan?
He was happy. Actually, I had met the President previously when (the late) Prof. Dora Akunyili started the rebranding Nigeria campaign, and during the ‘Nigeria at 50’ celebrations. May her soul rest in peace. Despite the criticisms, President Jonathan is a good man and listens. My father was 23 when he designed the Nigerian flag in 1958. His original design had a sun in the middle of the white but this was removed from the final design.
Did he tell you why he painted a symbol of the sun in his original design of the country’s flag?
He spent most of his lifetime in the North. This was because his father was a businessman and so he travelled a lot. His exposure in the North, which has a lot of sunshine, made him put the symbol in the original design. It was removed by the judges to make it a simple design.
How did he come about the design of the flag?
When he designed the flag, he was still a student at Norwich Technical College, London, where he studied Electrical Engineering. He said he was on his way to the library when he got the information that Nigeria needed a new flag design to mark her independence in 1960. He went back to the school’s hostel after getting the necessary information and started the design. He later sent it to Nigeria.
How was it like growing up with your father?
It was an interesting experience.
How has your father’s name opened doors for you?
There were some places I did not expect to gain access into, but because of his name, it was easy for me. I remember how the mere mention of his name gave me an access to several events I attended. When my sister wanted to gain admission into higher institution, his name opened doors. On getting to the school, she discovered that her name was not on the admissions list. She went to the registrar and explained herself. When she mentioned my father’s name, help came her way.
During your days in school, did his name influence your interaction with schoolmates and lecturers?
In school, I did not want people to know about my surname because I did not want too much attention. But no matter how much I hid myself, people found out somehow. During the centenary celebrations, I went with my father to an occasion and so missed a few lectures. When I got back to school and met the lecturer who took the lectures, he sent me out of his class. He then asked why I missed his class. I told him and the reason. He just smiled and said he remembered seeing me on television the other day. When I went back to his office later, he said I shouldn’t worry.
What about your girlfriend, how does it affect your relationship?
You know how ladies are, she’s always happy that she’s dating the son of the man who designed Nigeria’s flag.
How do you feel whenever you go out with your dad?
I feel proud all the time because he commands much respect wherever he goes. During the recent national honours ceremony, everyone wanted to meet him and take pictures with him. He did not have a moment’s rest. Even when we got to the airport, he was well recognised. People always respect and appreciate his work.
What kind of father is he?
He is a good and caring father. He also advises us a lot. I remember him telling us that we should not only focus on what he has done, but that we should also think of what we can do for the country to make his name greater.
What do you think of doing to further uplift his name?
When the time comes, I’ll know what to do.
What are some of the values you have imbibed from him?
I have learnt patience and contentment. Dad is a patient person and he is very kind.
How did he discipline his children whenever they erred?
He did not flog his children, but he would rather advise us to desist from any wrongdoing. He scolds us whenever we go wrong. We know him well for that. So, we avoid anything that can make him do that.
How would you describe his health in the last decade?
I am grateful to the Chief Medical Director of University College, Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge, who facilitated his getting free medical care. The chairman of Odua Investments was also supportive then. He gets free medical checkups drugs and whatever he needs for his health. He can walk within the compound and stroll around the neighbourhood. But he cannot walk a far distance. He spends more time at home now. I and my sister are always around to take care of him. He is much better now.
How do you feel about his not being accorded the recognition he deserved until now?
It’s something that had always bothered me that he had not been nationally recognised for his work. But I realised that God’s time is the best. I have never felt bad about being a Nigerian. His disposition throughout taught me a lesson that we should be grateful to God in every situation we find ourselves.
Did he influence your career choice?
No he didn’t. When he returned from his studies abroad, he did not practice his course of study, but worked in the Ministry of Agriculture, Oyo State. That may be why he did not have much influence on our career choices.
Why didn’t he practice as an engineer?
It was the ministry that offered him a job when he returned from abroad. I guess he did not want to keep searching for other job offers in the field of engineering. He worked in the Ministry of Agriculture, Oyo State, until he retired in 1993. Since he retired, he has been living on his pension and the generosity of some people who usually came to visit him.
What are his views about the country and how does he feel about the delayed recognition?
Despite him not being recognised, he never said anything bad about the country when people ask him. He could even say the house he lives was built for him by the government whereas it wasn’t. He was always saying good things about the country. I would say my dad is a true patriot.
How sociable is he?
He does not like going to parties because he is a quiet person. But he attends important social functions whenever he is invited. He is not a sociable person.
Who are some of your dad’s closet friends?
Some of his closest friends are those he went to school with. They include Chief Edishoko and Mr. Yinka Williams.
What is his favourite food?
He likes eating amala and semovita, with any kind of soup.
What are his likes and dislikes?
He doesn’t like a noise or anything that distracts him. He hates dishonesty. He likes strolling around as a form of relaxation. He loves watching football. Daily, he always asks me if I have watched football. He watches matches daily.
Does he have a favourite team?
No, he does not. His favourite player then was Segun Odegbami.
How did he spend time with his family?
I remember he used to come to pick us up from school and take us to the Ibadan Zoo. He liked spending time with his family.
How is his relationship with your mum?
They have a good relationship.
How does he react whenever he gets angry?
He seldom gets angry. I don’t pray that he should get angry, because whenever he gets angry, he gets really angry (laughs). There was a day my brother offended him and he gave him a serious lashing. Since then, we always ensured that we followed his rules and regulations.
How was his reading habit in his younger days?
He likes reading. But he enjoys solving mathematics problems. There was a time my sister came home with a mathematics assignment. She was in senior secondary school then and she asked my father to help her do the assignment. He did. She scored good grades for that assignment when she submitted it the next day in school. But her teacher was curious and asked her who helped her to do it. The teacher said he knew she didn’t solve the questions by herself because the formula she used was an old formula but she still got the answers correctly (laughs). That was when she told him it was her father who assisted her. The teacher then said, “Your dad must be an intelligent man. I like him for that.”
How do you feel whenever you see the Nigerian flag?
I always feel happy and proud whenever I see it. I tell myself that I also want to do something good for the country like my father did. But I feel disappointed whenever I see the country’s flag being handled anyhow. There was a day I went to a school and saw the hoisted flag looking torn and dirty. I felt so bad.
What should Nigerians learn from your father?
Patriotism. They should not wait for the country to do something for them, or think the country can do everything for them. They should find something they can do for the country.
What do you want the country to remember him for?
He should not just be remembered as someone who designed the Nigerian flag, but also as someone who contributed in shaping our national identity. I am grateful for the national honour bestowed on him. But I think a monument or place should be named in his honour too.
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