By Joy Omagha Idam
Prof Ezekiel William, is indeed a golden fish and sure has no hiding place because his philanthropic works has endeared him to many across the Country, not just Akwa Ibom his state of origin.
This golden egg was laid on July 28th, 1964 in Ikot Unya, Ikot Odung Ikono Ibom, in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
He had his early Childhood education at Urua Udo Group School, Ikot Obio Mkpong Ikono Ibom in Uyo LGA between 1970 – 1976, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC).
Soon after, he proceeded to study and obtain his Secondary School Certificate from Ikono Ibom Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Ayan Ikono Ibom in Uyo LGA between 1976-1981.
Having found his brains very good in mathematics from high school, he gained admission into the University of Port Harcourt, where he obtained a University Diploma in Accountancy in 1992.
Still trying to acquire more foundational knowledge in his chosen field of Accounting, he studied and obtained another Advanced Diploma in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in the year 2000.
Again, this studious seed proceeded to study and obtain a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Business Management from Ambrose Ali University in Edo State in 2003.
Still in the quest for more education, he studied and obtained a Master’s Degree (MBA) in Business Administration at same Ambrose Ali University in Edo State in 2007. Without any waste of time, he proceeded to study and obtain a Doctorate Degree (PhD) from Wisconcin University – USA in 2012.
As a sound professional, this proud son of Ikono Ibom Clan in Uyo LGA is not just registered, but in the forefront of many professional bodies such as:
- Fellow of the Institute of Company and Commercial Accountants 2003
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria 2004
- Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants 2007
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants 2010
- Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) 2011
- National President of Direct and Indirect Taxation Training Institute 2013
- Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, United Kingdom 2013
- Fellow of Institute of Certified Public Accountant of Pakistan 2013
- Fellow of the Institute of Fraud Examiners 2015
- Fellow of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria 2016
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Financial Managers, USA 2016
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administrators 2017
- Fellow of Institute of Facility Managers 2017
- Fellow of Chartered Institute of Forensic & Investigative Auditors 2018
- Fellow of Institute of Loan and Risk Management 2018
Nonetheless, this erudite Professor from Ikono Ibom extraction in Uyo LGA has a lot of publications (books/journals) to his credit which we cannot exhaust on this page, but we will mention the most popular for which is a household brand: “FUNDAMENTALS OF TAX PLANNING AND INTERNAL CONTROL MANAGEMENT”.
This illustrious son of Ikono Ibom Clan in Uyo LGA has held various leadership positions for which we will mention just a few to include:
- Pioneer Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Ikot Ekpene branch
- The Chairman, of the Rivers and Bayelsa States District – Society of (ICPAN)
- Chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Port Harcourt District Society.
- National President, of Direct and Indirect Taxation Training Institute of Nigeria
- Chairman, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter
- Senior Lecturer of Principles of Accounting and Taxation with IBTC – Anchor University, Port Harcourt Campus.
- Lecturer of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria – Training Centre in Principles of Accounting and Taxation
This gentleman, has wealth of working experience which covers:
- Nigerian Technical Company Limited, Port Harcourt 1983-1988
- Nigerian Shipbuilders, Port Harcourt 1988-1991
- Managing Partner, Ezekiel Williams & Co. (Certified National Accountants), Port Harcourt, till date.
- Managing Partner, Ezekiel Edem & Co. (Chartered Tax Practitioners). Port Harcourt, till date.
- Resident Partner AOC Professional Services, (Chartered Accountants), Port Harcourt, till date.
- Managing Partner, Eggheads Management Consultants, (Chartered Managers), Port Harcourt, till date.
- Managing Partner, Eggheads Associates Limited, (Chartered Secretaries), Port Harcourt), till date.
- Managing partner, Eggheads Management Consultants Llc, USA, till date.
- Chairman/CEO, Eggheads Petroleum Ltd., till date.
As a sound professional, this great technocrat has attended a lot of professional workshops and seminars of which we will mention but a few:
- Workshop on Management & Human Resource, USA.
- Mandatory Professional Training Programme, organized by Chartered Institute of Nigeria (CITN) Lagos.
- Annual Tax Conference, Abuja.
- Annual Conference Organized by Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).
- Mandatory Professional Training Programme, by CITN, Port Harcourt.
As an erudite scholar, he has presented so many papers of which we will mention a few to include:
- Accounting Treatment of Withholding Tax and VAT.
- Petroleum Taxation and Application.
- Management, Approach and Techniques.
- Tax Incentives and it’s Benefits in Nigeria
- Effective Tax Planning Strategies.
- Using Empirical Measures in Solving Managerial Problems.
- Definition of Taxation & Administration.
- The concept of Tax Planning.
- Tax Planning Strategies & Incentives.
- The Issues of Tax Evasion & Tax Avoidance.
- Tax Incentive as a Tool for Tax Compliance.
- Internal Control Management.
- Creating an Enabling Environment for Internal Control.
- Enhancing Internal Control through Budgeting.
- Resource Person for Nigerian Institute of Management.
- Resource Person for Federal Inland Revenue Service.
- Resource Person for Rivers State Internal Revenue Service
- Resource Person for Benue State Internal Revenue Service
- Resource Person Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service
This amiable illustrious son of Ikono Ibom Clan in Uyo LGA is a recipient of many prestigious awards too numerous to mention to include:
- Golden Achievers Award.
- Professorial Award in Business Administration of Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica in 2017.
Prof. William is an amazing philanthropist, he does not give crumbs to his people, he gives them the first, fattest and the best portion. He has touched thousands of lives and still counting. He loves his people and he is both physically and emotionally connected to them.
He has kept food on a lot of tables and has empowered many to have legitimate and sustainable sources of livelihood and comfortable ones at that. This man is a firm believer and frontline proponent of project Ikono Ibom, attaching first class value to the Ikono Ibom dream.
His dreams, yearnings and aspirations – is first tailored on how to make Ikot Odung Ikono Ibom a little Washington DC and from there spread to other areas. Because charity should as a matter of fact always begin at home.
Prof., Ezekiel Williams has been personally undertaking the grading of the Ikot Odung road as an annual routine from his personal funds.
He goes ahead to sort out various individual and communal challenges in his locality as a great pillar of support without a noise. Countless number of people are on his personal scholarship list at both secondary and tertiary levels.
He is humble, kindhearted, honest and development conscious. These and many more can be said of him.
On that note distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour and privilege to present to you our PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK in the person of Prof Ezekiel William.
Your Excellency, Prof William, may God bless you for all you do for humanity. May God’s Countenance Shine Upon You and Lines keep Falling for you in Pleasant Places. Congratulations. Keep being Good Sir.
Weekenders magazine celebrates you. And appreciate all you do for Humanity.