On Wednesday, esteemed dignitaries gathered at the Lagos residence of Akintola Williams, Nigeria’s trailblazing indigenous chartered accountant, to pay their heartfelt respects.
Akintola Williams, a pioneer in his field, passed away at his home on Monday at the remarkable age of 104.
Some of the dignitaries who visited the deceased’s residence were the group chief executive officer, Nigerian Exchange Group, Oscar Onyema; chairman, Yinka Folawiyo Group, Tijani Folawiyo; general overseer of the Trinity House Ministries International, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; senior pastor of House on the Rock, Paul Adefarasin; former group chairman of Ecobank Transnational, Emmanuel Ikazoboh; and chairman of Lasaco Assurance, Teju Phillips.
Ikazoboh said, “He was a great icon who imbibed in us his values, standards, he is an embodiment of integrity. If there is anybody in the world today that is integrity-personified, that person has just gone.”
Ighodalo said, “This is an emotional moment for me for several reasons; I was quite close to Mr Williams. The mention of Chief Akintola Williams, Nigeria’s first indigenous chartered accountant, stirs a wellspring of memories.
“First of all, I am a chartered accountant and everybody knows that he was accountant one in Nigeria. He set the pace for us, especially those of us who set up our private firms.”
