The Nigerian’s first indigenous chartered accountant Akintola Williams dies at 104 in the early hours of Monday 11th September, 2023 in his sleep. The Doyen of accounting has gone to rest. He recently celebrated his 104th birthday on the 9th of August, 2023. The death of Akintola Williams was confirmed and made public by the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun. Abiodun described his death as the end of an era. Akintola Williams is from Ogun State and was reported to have died at his residence in Lagos.
Akintola Williams Dies At 104, A Brief History Of His Life
Akintola Williams was Nigeria’s first indigenous chartered accountant who pioneered the Nigerian accounting profession. He also played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s financial sector. He was born in 1919, went to Yaba Higher College on a UAC scholarship and obtained a Diploma in Commerce. In 1944, he travelled to England to study Banking and Finance at the University of London. He graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He continued his studies in England and qualified as a chartered accountant in England in 1949.
He was the first person from sub-Saharan Africa to become a chartered accountant after he passed the qualifying examination of the Institute Of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) and later became a fellow of the institute.
He was among those who founded the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) which was formerly known as the Association of Accountants in Nigeria. He founded the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co in Lagos in the year 1952 which is now known as Deloitte & Touches. He was also the founding member and first president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria from 1963 to 1965 and a member of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors.
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Akintola Williams played an important and leading role in ensuring the establishment of the Association of Accountants in Nigerians in the year 1960 to train accountants in Nigeria. He also played an essential role in the establishment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In 1982, it was honoured with the order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government. He was also honoured in April 1997 by Queen Elizabeth with the title Commander of the British Empire.