Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has described Nigeria’s first Chartered Accountant Chief Akintola Williams, who died recently, as a torchbearer, upright, disciplinarian, and excellent mentor.
Emmanuel, who stated this while mourning Williams’ demise, said he is a man of astonishing intelligence who indelibly impacted the global accounting profession.
The former governor, in a statement eulogised Williams as “an exceptionally brilliant, versatile, insightful and incorruptible professional; an awe-inspiring personality, who gloriously bestrode his chosen path like a colossus and played very pivotal roles in building the Nigerian financial sector as well as instilling the much-needed accounting precepts for the development of our dear nation.
“Over the years, as Nigeria’s first Chattered Accountant, the leading father of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the last surviving of the founding fathers of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Chairman of various key economic institutions including the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank, the Audit Committee of the the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) the Federal Income Tax Appeal Commissioners among many others, Chief Williams exhibited unmatched patriotism in setting highest ethical benchmarks for best practices in Nigeria.
“As a Father of Accounting in Nigeria, Chief Williams devoted his time, energy and resources, in public and private practices, towards nation building as well as training and equipping of budding accountants especially through his firm (Akintola Williams & Co,) now Akintola Williams, Deloitte & Touche.
“He was an epitome of faith, honesty and hardwork. Even in old age, he was always full of practical ideas, had solution to every knotty issue and continued in that path to the very end. He left indelible footprints and remain the undying source of inspiration for many, as his legacies will continue to live and impact lives for many generations to come”, Udom Emmanuel said.
The former Akwa Ibom State Governor urged the Federal Government to immortalize Chief Akintola Williams for his decades of selfless service and honour to the nation.
