Nigeria Mourns the Loss Of Its First Chartered Accountant

Eko Hot Blog reports Akintola Williams, Nigeria’s first indigenous chartered accountant and a pioneer of the country’s accounting profession, died in his sleep on Monday morning at the age of 104.

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Williams was born in Lagos in 1919 and studied accounting at the University of London. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1947 and returned to Nigeria to set up his own accounting firm, Akintola Williams & Co., which later became Deloitte & Touche.

Williams was a strong advocate for developing the accounting profession in Nigeria and was a founding member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He served as president of ICAN from 1963 to 1965.

Williams was also a member of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors and played a key role in the founding of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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He was a recipient of many awards and honors, including the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM). He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Williams’ death is a major loss to the accounting profession in Nigeria and Africa. He was a true pioneer who helped to lay the foundation for the development of the profession in the country. He will be remembered as a great accountant, a dedicated professional, and a true patriot.

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