- NAIJ.com has presented several facts about Chief Akintola Williams, the founding father of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)
- Before founding the NSE, Chief Willaims’ firm, Akintola Williams and Co., became the largest professional services firm in Nigeria, with over 600 staff
- The NSE celebrated Chief Williams’ 95th birthday in 2014, with a symbolic Closing Gong in his honor
Chief Akintola Williams is a founding father of the Lagos Stock Exchange (now Nigerian Stock Exchange), and the only surviving signatory to the original Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Exchange.
He is also the first president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and was the first African to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.
He was born on August 9, 1919, to a clerk in the colonial service, Thomas Ekundayo Williams, and his wife.
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Akintola Williams was an elder brother to the late legal scholar, Rotimi Williams; and the late Reverend Kehinde Williams.
After his primary and secondary education at Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School and Yaba Higher College respectively, Chief Williams went ahead to attend to study Banking and Finance at the University of London; from which he obtained a Bachelor in Commerce degree.
He went further with his studies, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in England in 1949.
Chief Williams served as a civil servant with the Inland Revenue when he returned to Nigeria in 1950.
He served at the Inland Revenue, until he left to start his own company- Akintola Williams and Co- an accounting.
As his firm grew, it merged two other accounting firms to create Akintola Williams Deloitte, which became the largest professional services firm in Nigeria, with over 600 staff.
At his 95th birthday celebration in 2014, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) organized a symbolic Closing Gong ceremony in his honor.
Chief Akintola Williams receives a plaque from the NSE on his 95th birthday celebration (Photo credit: nse.com.ng)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr Oscar Onyema, stated: “I am honoured today to celebrate Mr. Williams, the only surviving signatory to the original Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) at the founding of the NSE in September 15, 1960.
“As the pioneer of the accountancy profession in Nigeria, Mr. Williams deserves our highest acclaim."
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is considered to be the third largest in Africa, with a strong effect on the development of the Nigerian economy.
The stock exchange is not only a platform for sharing, but a marketplace where companies raise their capital and profits.
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Source: Naij.com