Africa’s doyen of accounting, Akintola Williams, dies at 104

Akintola Williams, Nigeria’s first chartered accountant and the founder of Africa’s first indigenous accounting firm, has passed away at 104. His demise, confirmed earlier today, marks the end of an era and a profound loss for the country.

Born in 1919, Williams embarked on his educational journey in the early 1930s at Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School in Lagos Island, Lagos.

His pursuit of accounting excellence led him to the University of London, where he studied diligently and ultimately qualified as a chartered accountant in 1947.

Returning to Nigeria in 1950, Williams joined the Inland Revenue as an assessment officer, serving until March 1952, when he took a historic step. He founded Akintola Williams & Co. in Lagos, a move that established the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Williams was a passionate advocate for the development of the accounting profession in Nigeria. He played a pivotal role in the founding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and served as its president from 1963 to 1965.

Under his leadership, Akintola Williams & Co. diversified its services, acquiring a computer service company and a secretarial service. In 1977, the firm entered into a profit-sharing agreement with Touché Ross International, a global accounting powerhouse.

Williams was not only a pioneer but also a visionary. He served on the boards of numerous companies and became a major shareholder. His retirement in 1983 marked the end of a remarkable era in Nigerian business.

One of his most significant contributions came in the late 1990s when Akintola Williams & Co. merged with two other accounting firms, creating Akintola Williams Deloitte, now known as Deloitte & Touché Nigeria (Deloitte Nigeria). Today, it stands as the largest professional services firm in Nigeria, employing over 600 individuals.

Williams also played a pivotal role in establishing the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and served as the first President of ICAN.

For his extraordinary contributions to pioneering Nigeria’s accounting profession and advancing its financial sector, Williams received numerous prestigious awards, including the Order of the Federal Republic and the Nigerian National Order of Merit. He was also recognized as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.