The Lagos State Governor alongside his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote on Thursday paid their final respect to the first indigenous chartered accountant in Nigeria and elder statesman, Chief Akintola Williams at his funeral service on Thursday.
Also present at the funeral service which was held at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan by the Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, Lagos, were a former governor of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; founder of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd).
In a press statement by the chief press secretary of the governor, Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu, speaking at the funeral service, described 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 speech, Abiodun said the footprint of the late Akintola Williams will remain in the sand of time for many years because of what he stood for during his lifetime.
In his sermon, the Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Sunday Makinde, urged family, friends and associates to immortalise the deceased by supporting the Akintola Williams Centenary Building Project of the church.
Present also were captains of industry, bank executives, bishops, priests, family, friends and associates of the deceased both home and abroad.
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