BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Nigeria’s first Pioneer chartered accountant, Pa Akintola Williams is dead.
He died in the early hours of Monday in Lagos at the age of 104.
The doyen of accounting played a crucial role in stabilising Nigeria’s accounting sector.
Briefly
Born on 9th August 1919, Pa Williams started his education at Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Bankole street, Apongbon, Lagos Island, Lagos in the early 1930s.
He thereafter proceeded to CMS Grammar School, Lagos for his secondary education.
After graduation, he attended Yaba Higher College on a UAC scholarship, obtaining a diploma in Commerce.
In 1944, he travelled to England where he studied at the University of London and majored in Banking and Finance, He later graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Commerce.
Pa Williams continued his studies and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in England in 1949.
In 1952, he founded the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co, in Lagos.
He was a founding member and first president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
In 1960, Pa Williams played a key role that led to the establishment of Association of Accountants in Nigeria, aimed at nurturing and training accountants. He was the first president of the association.
Also, he played an invaluable role in the establishment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Honours
Pa Williams was honoured with the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian Government in 1982.
In April 1997, Queen Elizabeth also honoured him with the title Commander of the British Empire.