Taiwo Akinkunmi, the renowned civil servant who designed Nigeria’s national flag, has passed away at the age of 84.

His passing was announced by his son, Akinkunmi Akinwumi Samuel via his Facebook page on Wednesday.

He wrote: “Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly you live a life with a landmark. Continue to rest on, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R) Great Man has gone.”

Akinkunmi gained fame for his iconic design, which features three vertical stripes of green-white-green.

He entered a competition in 1958 to design a flag for Nigeria, which was on the verge of gaining independence. His design was chosen as the best, and he was given 100 pounds as a reward. Since then, his design has been a symbol of national pride and unity.

Born on May 10, 1936, Akinkunmi had a successful career as an electrical engineer and a civil servant. He served the government for many years before retiring. Despite his accomplishments, Akinkunmi lived a humble life, and his pension payments were irregular.

He received admiration and support from ordinary Nigerians who recognized his contribution to the country.

A few years ago, he was honoured with the national honour of Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Goodluck Jonathan.