The national flag is an adaptation of the winning entry from Taiwo Akinkunmi in a competition held in 1959. The original had a red sun with streaming rays placed at the top of the white stripe. This was removed by the judges and the flag has not been altered since. Like other countries, Nigeria has special ensigns for civil and naval vessels. Some of its states also have flags.The designer of the national flag was Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a twenty three-year-old student. He was studying at Norwich Technical College in England when he saw an advertisement in a newspaper that entries were being accepted for the design of a new National flag. In 1959 Akinkunmi's design was chosen as the winner and was first officially used on October 1, 1960, Nigeria's Independence day.The national flag is an adaptation of the winning entry from Taiwo Akinkunmi in a competition held in 1959. The original had a red sun with streaming rays placed at the top of the white stripe. This was removed by the judges and the flag has not been altered since. Like other countries, Nigeria has special ensigns for civil and naval vessels. Some of its states also have flags.The designer of the national flag was Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a twenty three-year-old student. He was studying at Norwich Technical College in England when he saw an advertisement in a newspaper that entries were being accepted for the design of a new National flag. In 1959 Akinkunmi's design was chosen as the winner and was first officially used on October 1, 1960, Nigeria's Independence day.