Pa Akintola Williams, one of the Founding Fathers of ICAN and the Doyen of Nigeria’s accounting profession, passed away earlier this week at the age of 104. The Governing Council and members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) are full of praise for his life and accomplishments.
According to a statement from the 59th ICAN President, Innocent Okwuosa, Pa Williams was a giant whose name is revered and admired across the accountancy profession both in Nigeria and Africa.
He said
“Pa Williams was unarguably a trailblazer, a mentor, and a symbol of what one individual with vision and determination can achieve. His life is an enduring testament to the power of excellence and ethical conduct.”
Okwuosa clarified that his spectacular climb to fame began in the University of London, where he majored in Banking and Finance and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1946.
“It is indeed historic that he was the first Chartered Accountant of African descent to qualify with The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in 1949 and later a Fellow of the Institute. This singular achievement opened doors for him and countless aspiring accountants who sought to follow in his footsteps,” he added.
cc: Vanguard Ng
