As Nigeria prepared for independence in the late 1950s, one task stood out as both symbolic and unifying, the creation of a national flag. This flag would represent not only sovereignty but also the hopes of a people stepping into self-rule after decades of colonial domination.
The design that emerged, a simple green–white–green vertical triband, came not from a government office or professional artist but from a young Nigerian student studying in London: Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi. His vision captured the nation’s ideals so perfectly that it remains unchanged more than six decades later.
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National Symbols and the Approach to Independence
By the late 1950s, the momentum for Nigerian independence was irreversible. Nationalist leaders such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahmadu Bello were defining the political future of the federation. Yet beyond the constitutional negotiations, there was also a growing desire to craft a new national identity, one that could unite over 200 ethnic groups under shared symbols of peace, progress, and pride.
Colonial emblems like the Union Jack and the British coat of arms bore no cultural connection to Nigerians’ lived realities. Therefore, new national symbols, a flag, coat of arms, and anthem, were seen as vital markers of selfhood and sovereignty.
In 1958, the Nigerian government announced an open competition for a national flag design. This inclusive gesture invited all citizens, at home and abroad, to participate in the symbolic birth of their nation.
The Designer of the flag: Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi
Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi was born in Ibadan, Oyo Province, in 1936. Some accounts trace his family roots to nearby Abeokuta, but his childhood, education, and career were firmly based in Ibadan. After attending Baptist Day School and Ibadan Grammar School, he worked briefly as a civil servant before travelling to the United Kingdom, where he studied electrical engineering at Norwood Technical College, London.
In 1958, while reading in a library, Akinkunmi came across a newspaper advertisement announcing the flag design competition. Motivated by patriotism and curiosity, he began to sketch concepts that could represent Nigeria’s ideals.
His final submission consisted of three equal vertical bands, green, white, and green, with a red sun positioned in the centre of the white band. In his accompanying notes, Akinkunmi explained that green represented Nigeria’s rich agriculture, white symbolised peace and unity, and the red sun stood for the dawning of a new era.
The Selection Process
The flag competition attracted between 2,000 and 3,000 entries from Nigerians within the country and abroad. The submissions were reviewed by a panel of government officials and artists, who judged them based on clarity, symbolism, and visual balance.
Akinkunmi’s design stood out for its simplicity and powerful message. However, the panel decided to remove the red sun from the centre, reasoning that the flag’s beauty and durability would be greater without any emblem. The resulting green–white–green design was elegant, symbolic, and easy to reproduce, perfectly suited to represent a new nation.
When the judging concluded, Akinkunmi’s entry was declared the winner. He was 23 years old and received a £100 prize, modest in material value, yet monumental in meaning. His creation became the official emblem of Nigeria’s independence.
The Symbolism of the Flag
The strength of the Nigerian flag lies in its purity of design and meaning. Each colour embodies a foundational ideal of the nation:
- Green:Represents Nigeria’s lush vegetation, fertile soil, and agricultural prosperity, the country’s natural foundation for growth.
- White:Symbolises peace and unity, the moral and civic virtue required to bind a diverse people together.
Together, the green–white–green arrangement expresses balance, between the richness of the land and the harmony of its people. It speaks to renewal, hope, and shared destiny at the dawn of independence.
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Independence Day: The First Hoisting
The flag was officially adopted on 1 October 1960, when Nigeria gained independence from Britain. That midnight, during a ceremony at Race Course, Lagos (now Tafawa Balewa Square), the Union Jack was lowered and the green–white–green flag was raised before jubilant crowds and dignitaries.
The moment marked a profound turning point, the first time Nigeria’s own flag flew over its land as a sovereign nation. From that day onward, it became the most visible emblem of Nigerian identity, proudly displayed in schools, government buildings, and, later, across the world wherever Nigerians gathered.
The Man Behind the Flag: Legacy and Recognition
After returning home, Akinkunmi resumed work as a civil servant in the Western Region, later Oyo State. For many years, his role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity was known mainly among historians, teachers, and patriotic circles.
Public recognition came later in life. In September 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan honoured him with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and announced that Akinkunmi would be placed on the salary of a Special Assistant to the President for life, a rare tribute to a citizen whose creativity became part of the nation’s soul.
Akinkunmi passed away on 29 August 2023, aged 87. His death prompted tributes across Nigeria and beyond, celebrating him as a humble patriot whose design gave visible form to the spirit of independence. His funeral, held in 2024, was attended by officials, students, and citizens moved by the legacy of his enduring work.
The Flag’s Enduring Relevance
Since 1960, the Nigerian flag has remained unchanged, a testament to its timeless simplicity. Its meaning, however, has deepened as the country has navigated moments of triumph, challenge, and renewal.
During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), the flag became a contested yet enduring symbol of unity. In later decades, through military regimes, democratic transitions, and social change, it continued to embody citizens’ aspirations for peace and national purpose.
Today, the flag flies across schools, embassies, and stadiums. It adorns the kits of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, features in art and fashion, and serves as a rallying emblem for Nigerians worldwide. For the diaspora, it remains a link to home, a symbol of shared heritage and hope.
To generations born after independence, the flag stands not only for the promise of 1960 but for the continuing challenge to realise that promise, reminding all Nigerians that unity, peace, and purpose remain the nation’s highest ideals.
Author’s Note
The green–white–green flag remains one of Nigeria’s most enduring national symbols. Conceived by a young student whose creativity sprang from patriotism, it continues to embody ideals of unity, peace, and progress. More than sixty years after independence, it still speaks powerfully to Nigerians everywhere. Each time it is raised, in classrooms, stadiums, or diplomatic ceremonies, it recalls the optimism of 1960: that a united Nigeria, standing beneath its simple and beautiful emblem, can continue to strive for harmony and greatness.
References:
Vanguard Nigeria, “Designer of Nigerian Flag Dies at 87,” 2023.
NDTV, “Man Who Designed Nigeria’s Flag to Get Burial a Year After Death,” 2024.
AllAfrica, “Goodluck Jonathan Honours Flag Designer Taiwo Akinkunmi,” 2014.
