Ahead of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day celebration, the late Pa Taiwo Akinkumi, who designed the Nigerian flag and 10 other heroes will receive the Citizenship and Patriots Award from the Federal Government.
Nigeria got her independence from Great Britain on October 1, 1960 and would mark its 63rd independence anniversary with a low-key celebration due to the country’s economic challenges, according to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
The ceremony, which is planned for October 5, is a component of the National Orientation Agency’s initiatives to advance civic education across the nation.
During a press conference on Tuesday, in Abuja, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari, stated that September 16 of each year has been designated as National Symbols Day and September 30 as Citizens and Patriots Day.
The other awardees are Naval Rating, Salaudeen Akano, who hoisted the Nigerian flag at midnight to mark the independence of Nigeria in 1960; and the late Commander Onwurah Chiazor, the commandant under whose order Naval Rating Salaudeen hoisted the flag, John Ilechukwu, Eme Akpan, B.A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe. all contributed to the lyrics of the country’s National Anthem.
Also slated for honour is the man who directed the Nigerian Police Band which included the late Benedict Odiase, the woman who created the National Pledge, Late Felicia Adedoyin and Adewusi.
According to Abari, the National Symbols Day commemorates the day when the nation’s Coat of Arms and national ordinance were officially adopted, which is a day before Nigeria’s Independence Day in 1960.
He said the occasion serves as a reminder of the importance of treating Nigeria’s national symbols with pride, allegiance, and respect as emblems of Nigeria’s existence and sovereignty.
