Chief Akintola Williams: 8 Notable Things About The Centenarian As He Clocks 100 Today

Chief Akintola Williams, born 9th August 1919, is one of the seasoned professionals in Africa who has distinguished himself as an administrator, dynamic entrepreneur and an accomplished businessman.

The renowned accountant, who turned 100 today, was born exactly a day after the then Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Frederick Lugard handed over power to Sir Hugh Clifford. As he starts his centenarian journey, here are 8 notable things you need to know about Chief Akintola Williams.

1. Chief Williams is the first African to qualify as a chartered accountant in 1949. After he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (majoring in Banking and Finance) in 1946, he continued his studies and qualified as a chartered accountant in England.
2. His family is full of firsts notable people. His younger brother, Rotimi Williams, was also the first Nigerian to be decorated with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria title, and the founder of the first indigenous Nigerian law firm in Nigeria in 1948 with Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode and Chief Bode Thomas. The law firm was called Thomas, Williams and Kayode.
3. He is one of the founders of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa Society while in London, with Dr. Oni Akerele as President and Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Secretary.
4. After returning to Nigeria in 1950, Chief Williams served with the Inland Revenue as an assessment officer until March 1952, when he left the civil service and founded Akintola Williams & Co. in Lagos. The company was the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa.
5. He is one of the founding members and the first president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He participated also in founding the Nigerian Stock Exchange and he is the only surviving signatory to the original Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Nigerian Stock Exchange at the founding of the NSE in September 15, 1960.
6. The centenarian, who is a lover of classical music, is one of the brains behind the Music Society of Nigeria — operators of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.READ ALSO: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Robert F. Smith
7. He is the last surviving member of the Coker Commission of Enquiry set up by the late Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, to probe the finances of the Western Region.
8. He has served on the boards of many notable companies, including Shell Trustees (Nigeria) Limited, John Holt Investment Limited, British-American Tobacco Company, BEWAC Limited, Bentworth Finance Limited, G. Cappa Plc, Universe Re-Insurance Company Limited, Mandilas Limited and United Nigerian Textiles Plc.