“As the whole world looks forward to his centenary next August, a grateful nation cannot wait to celebrate the accountant and statesman.”
This was exactly how The Guardian concluded a special tribute to the doyen of the accounting profession in Nigeria, Chief Akintola Williams when he marked his 99th birthday last year. Then, clocking 100 sounded too far. But today, the veteran accountant has finally joined the prestigious league of centenarians. Hurray! Akintola Williams is 100 years old today.
Today, his Ikoyi Lagos residence will be busy with friends and family members who will surely gather to celebrate the centenarian. Certainly, a ceremony is slated in his honour today at the MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos; Williams and his late wife Mabel were instrumental to the establishment of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) and the building of the MUSON Centre, Lagos, where Baba still has a special seat.
Read Also: THISDAY Media Group celebrates Obaigbena at 60
Born in 1919, Chief Akintola’s grandfather Z.A. Williams was a merchant prince from Abeokuta in Ogun State and his father Thomas Ekundayo Williams was a clerk in the colonial service, who set up a legal practice in Lagos, after training in England. He attended Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, at Bankole Street, Apongbon, and CMS Grammar School, Lagos.
Largely, Williams’ decision to pursue a career in accountancy came from his days as a student of CMS Grammar School, Lagos.
“I would say a number of things made it possible for me to study accounting. First, we had mastered in the favourite subjects that eventually were necessary for my profession, namely mathematics. Mr. Adeola used to take us to mathematical subjects. The fact that we were particularly lucky to have masters, who were good at those subjects also helped my decision to go in for accountancy,” he said in an interview.
In the days of Akintola at CMS, the school had weekly cards for students, which indicated their progress in school. Through the cards, parents could keep track of their ward’s activities in school and Williams was never found wanting.