Meet Akintola Williams, the Nigerian man who became Africa’s first Chartered Accountant

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Africans in Africa and the Diaspora had gained access to quality and formal education. Interest was mainly in politics, medicine, law and philosophy. Today, many organisations, schools and online programs offer various courses in Chartered Accountancy, but the rush for it and other business-related courses only began in the 20th century.

In the 1900s Akintola Williams developed an interest in accountancy and followed his dream to become the first Chartered Accountant in Nigeria and Africa.

Akintola Williams was born on August 9, 1919, in Lagos Nigeria. He was born in an affluent family with generations working with white settlers and the government. His grandfather was a prosperous merchant and his father, Thomas Ekundayo Williams was a clerk who worked for the colonial office before setting up his legal firm in Lagos.

Throughout his primary education, Akintola enjoyed academic success, winning a scholarship to obtain a Diploma in Commerce from Yaba Higher College. Due to the absence of higher education institutions offering Commerce in Nigeria, Akintola Williams travelled to the UK to further his studies in 1944. In 1949, he successfully qualified as a Chartered Accountant in London 3 years after obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of London.

With a keen interest in the Nigerian economy and business sector, he returned to Nigeria in 1950 and immediately got a job with the Inland Revenue as an assessment officer. Exhibiting his passion and competence, this marked the beginning of successful years for the young accountant.

In 1952, Mr Williams left Inland Revenue to set up Akintola&Co to compete against already established business firms in the capital many of which were not locally owned. Through hard work and dedication, his firm soon became successful working with several cooperations in Nigeria such as the Electricity and Railway Cooperation. Between 1964 and 1995, his firm Akintola&Co had over 500 staff, branches all over West Africa and partners worldwide.

Akintola Williams retired at the age of 64 in 1983 but continued to serve his firm and Nigeria.

Seeing the need for more accountants in Nigeria, Akintola Williams set up the Association of Accountants in Nigeria in 1960 and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He served as the first president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants until he retired in 1983.

After retiring, Akintola dedicated his time and effort in various projects in the Arts. He helped establish and build the centre and concert hall for the Music Society of Nigeria.

For his hard work and dedication, Akintola Williams has been decorated with several awards. In 1982, the Nigerian government honoured him with the Order of the Federal Republic. He was appointed as Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1997 and was also presented a legacy award by the Nigeria-British Association in 2011.

With much inspiration from his merchant grandfather, Akintola Williams saw a gap in the formal business sector in Nigeria and filled it immensely.

Awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE),  Sir Akinola Williams turns 100 in 2019. He was married to Mrs Efuntiloye Mabel Williams, who passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2009.