When you are over 50,

it’s very rare to meet someone literally twice your age. When l met the world renowned Chartered Accountant, Akintola Williams, the first African to set up a Chartered Accountancy firm, l was awestruck because right before me was a living legend! His eyes were very sharp and you could not help but wonder if those probing eyes could literally read your thoughts. For someone his age, Akintola’s voice was very strong and commanding. You could tell this was a principled man who took great pride in his integrity and building the legacy that will far outlive him. What was most fascinating about this meeting was his inquisitive mind and the fact that his thinking faculty was still very intact even at 100 years old! The only thing that showed his age was his fragility but even with the physical appearance, there was an inner strength that could be felt rather than seen. I looked forward to learning more about this elder statesman and could not wait to let my journalist juices flow as l knew it was going to be a riveting interview and it was. So as not to exhaust him, l chose to ask his son Seni all the questions running through my mind and he graciously answered our questions on his father’s behalf while the subject himself watched us. His face was expressionless throughout the interview but it was clear had something been said that he did not agree with, he will not have hesitated to voice his thoughts. In today’s Nigeria where the average life span has fallen to slightly over 50, Akintola Williams truly is a blessed and very accomplished man! It is by no means a small feat to live to 100 years old! I can only imagine his train of thoughts on a daily basis now that he is on the other side of 100! It was truly an honour to showcase him and his life’s journeys to date. We look forward to doing more people in Akintola’s age bracket who have contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria as a nation and indeed the African continent.