Nigeria’s first native chartered accountant, Pa Akintola Williams, has passed away.
According to BusinessDay, Pa Williams passed away at the astonishing age of 104.
Williams passed away on Monday, September 11, 2023, at his home in Lagos, according to The Punch.
His influence on the nation’s accounting profession and the expansion of its financial industry has left a permanent mark on Nigeria’s financial landscape, according to an article from The Guardian.
Reacting, the former minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, said Pa Williams impacted lives with his giant strides in the accounting sector.
In a post shared on her X page, Ezekwesili tweeted:
“Awww, it’s Goodbye at last. What a historically impactful life!
“Praise God for the legend that was the doyen of the accountancy profession in Africa, Pa Akintola Williams. He had only some weeks ago celebrated his 104th birthday and has now passed on to the great beyond.
“As young trainees in our days at Deloitte & Touché Akintola Williams, to be in his presence felt like one had already attained Greatness. #Unforgettable impact on our lives then and after.
“May God comfort children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and wider families as well as the Alum of the great Accountancy practice he founded.”
He was born in 1919, attended the University of London to study accounting, and became a chartered accountant in 1947. He then established his accounting firm, Akintola Williams & Co., which is now Deloitte & Touche, after returning to Nigeria in 1952.
Williams was a fervent supporter of the growth of the accounting industry in Nigeria. He served as president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) from 1963 to 1965 and was one of its founding members. The National Board of Accountants and Auditors included him among its members.
The Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) are only a couple of the numerous honors and decorations Williams has received. Additionally, he was a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.