THE NIGERIAN FLAG

The Nigerian flag is one of the National symbols that makes the country unique in its own way and style. It is simple and beautiful in its design but carries a powerful message to the people of the country.
Beyond its simple design and beautiful colour, have you ever wondered how its design came about, what gave rise to the need to have a flag and why the colours green and white were chosen above all other colours on the wheel?
Here, we bring you a brief history of the flag and certain facts you might not have known.
About the Nigerian Flag…
Brief History of Nigeria’s Flag
The Nigerian flag was designed by Mr Michael Taiwo Akinkumi in 1959. The Yoruba man was born in Ibadan on the 10th of May 1936. As an electrical engineering student at the Norwood Technical College, London, he came across an advertisement in the national daily paper about a competition for the design of the national flag, and he immediately picked an interest and submitted his entry to the panel in Lagos State.
Mr Taiwo deservedly emerged the winner and was awarded a whopping prize of 100,000 naira, which was a fortune back in the days. However, even though his design was the best, the original design was given a little modification by the judges to better suit what they had in mind.
Taiwo’s original design of the Nigerian flag was a little more intricate than what you see today. It had the image of a red blazing sun in the white space in between which the judges apparently felt was not necessary and as such, it was removed. The picture below shows what Akinwumi came up with before the alterations.