The Red Sun Removed From Nigeria’s Original Flag Design

Nigeria’s green-white-green flag was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi after he entered a 1958 competition while studying engineering in London. His original entry featured the familiar green and white vertical panels, with a red sun placed at the centre. The red sun was removed before the flag was adopted at independence on October 1, 1960. The final design kept the green stripes, representing Nigeria’s agricultural wealth and natural resources, and the white stripe, symbolising peace and unity. Akinkunmi later became known as “Mr Flag Man”, but his role was largely forgotten for years. Public attention returned to his story in 2006, and he was later honoured with an OFR award and a lifetime salary equivalent to that of a Presidential Special Assistant. He died in 2023, leaving behind one of Nigeria’s most recognisable national symbols.

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