THE Lagos State Governor, along with his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday paid their final respects to Nigeria’s first indigenous chartered accountant and elder statesman, Chief Akintola Williams, at his funeral service.
Former governor of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; founder of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia; and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd) were also present at the funeral ceremony, which was held at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan by the Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, Lagos.
According to the chief press secretary of the governor, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu, stated while speaking at the funeral service, that the late Williams as a man God blessed with long life. He also described him as an outstanding Nigerian and a big Lagosian.
He said “At 104, how well would you describe a man that God first blessed with a long life and for a very long time, good health, and he had shown leadership at all levels? He was an outstanding Nigerian; a man who took his professional colleagues to an enviable level worldwide.
“He was also a lover of God, a churchgoer, and a man who built the altar of a church. He had all of the pillars to tick as a good man. We can only wish the family all the very best.
“To the country, we have lost an outstanding Nigerian and for us in Lagos, we lost a big Lagosian. We will continue to have memories of the hospitable life that he lived. I will miss him personally. I believe he lived a good life.”
In his statement, Abiodun stated that the late Akintola Williams’ footprint will be imprinted in the sands of time for many years because of what he stood for during the course of his life.
Captains of industry, bank executives, bishops, priests, family, friends, and associates of the departed from both home and abroad were also present.
