Sad News: ICAN Confirms The Death Of Akintola Williams....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has officially confirmed the passing of Akintola Williams, who was Africa’s first chartered accountant at the age of 30.
According to a trustworthy source within the Institute, both the President and the Registrar of ICAN are currently out of town. Nevertheless, a visit was made to the residence of the late Akintola Williams to verify the news of his demise.
Akintola Williams played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Association of Accountants in Nigeria in 1960, with the primary objective of training accountants. He served as the inaugural president of this association and also held the position of the pioneering president of ICAN.
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In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field of accountancy and his impact on Nigeria’s economic growth, he received the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1982 and the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2001 from the Nigerian government.
Furthermore, Akintola Williams was honored with awards from various organizations, including the Nigeria-Britain Association, which recognized his contributions to democracy and development alongside John Kufuor, the former President of Ghana, on May 8, 2011.
Born on August 9, 1919, into the family of Thomas Ekundayo Williams, he began his education at Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School in Lagos during the 1930s. He later attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos, for his secondary education. His academic excellence earned him a UAC scholarship to Yaba Higher College, where he obtained a diploma in commerce.
Continuing his education, he pursued studies in banking and finance at the University of London in 1944, graduating with a bachelor of commerce degree in 1946. He furthered his studies, becoming a chartered accountant in England in 1949, marking him as the first African to achieve this prestigious status.
Returning to Nigeria in 1950, he served as an assessment officer with the Inland Revenue until his resignation in March 1952. Subsequently, he founded his own accounting firm, Akintola Williams and Co., which became the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa.
Under his leadership, the firm expanded its reach, establishing branches and partnerships in other African countries, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Swaziland, and forging affiliations in Ghana, Egypt, and Kenya. Between April 1999 and May 2004, Akintola Williams & Co. merged with two other accounting firms, ultimately creating Akintola Williams Deloitte (now known as Deloitte & Touche), which stands as the largest professional services firm in Nigeria with nearly a thousand staff members.
