Africa’s pioneer chartered accountant, Akintola Williams dies at 104
The Pioneer-Chartered-Accountant in Africa Akintola Williams has died at age 104 on Monday at his residence, as made known in a statement by Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun who eulogised his contributions to the field of accountancy
Penpushing reports that Abiodun in a statement personally signed said the deceased who is an Ogun State citizen and Nigeria’s first indigenous chartered accountant, noted that his impacts in the profession will continue to be remembered and celebrated.
‘On behalf of the government and the good people of Ogun State, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of the doyen of accounting, late Chief Akintola Williams, who passed on to glory today’, Abiodun wrote.
‘While we are going to miss his priceless contributions for over seven decades in the field of accounting, our solace lies in the profound legacies he left behind and his indelible footprints. May God Almighty rest his soul and continue to strengthen his family, numerous mentees and all his admirers all over the world,” the statement read.
Penpushing further reports that the Governor in the statement made available to journalists, prayed for the repose of Williams soul and for the family and well-wishers to have the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
The deceased who was born on August, 9 1919, in the United Kingdom began his education at Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Bankole Street, Apongbon, Lagos Island, Lagos, in the early 1930s, and was instrumental in developing the country’s financial sector,
Penpushing also reports that he went to Yaba Higher College on a United Africa Company (UAC) scholarship, obtaining a Diploma in Commerce. In 1944, and later travelled to England where he studied at the University of London.
The late Nigerian studied Banking and Finance, and graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Commerce, and thereafter continued his studies and qualified as a chartered accountant in England in 1949, while in 1952, he founded the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams and Co, in Lagos.
Penpushing reports that Williams was a founding member and first President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and equally played a leading role in establishing the Association of Accountants in Nigeria in 1960 with the goal of training accountants.
The deceased was the first President of the Association, he played an invaluable role in the establishment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and was honoured with the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian Government in 1982.
Penpushing further reports that in April 1997, Queen Elizabeth also honoured him with the title Commander of the British Empire, while President Bola Tinubu celebrated the late doyen in August when he celebrated his 104th birthday.
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