The Daily Crucible | Sunday, October 16, 2022
Zachariah Archibald Williams (commonly known as Z. A. Williams) (1850 - 2 March 1912), who was a successful Merchant and a Prince from Abeokuta and one of the most successful businessmen in Nigeria at the time.
Z. A. Williams started his first business in 1870 at the age of 20, and in 1877 relocated his business to Lagos, where he dealt mainly in cotton goods. Soon after, Williams started a business in Idunshagbe, Lagos Island. He visited England for the first time in June 1880, where he made arrangements to establish a much larger business in Lagos. He returned in October 1880 and established a business on the Marina, in a building which, at the time, was called Manchester House.
In 1883, Williams made a fortune of £30,000 (equivalent to £3,742,000 in 2021), and in that same year travelled again to England to join his wife, who had travelled before him. In February 1885, he established a factory at Porto Novo, where the turnover in eleven months amounted to £11,000 (equivalent to £1,450,000 in 2021). In 1884, his business in Lagos was valued at £60,000 (equivalent to £7,650,0000 in 2021).
He paid further visits to England in 1887 and 1889, following which he retired from business. His main exports were palm oil, palm kernels, ivory and cotton. He had branch factories at Broad Street, Itolo, Offin, Victoria Road, Martin Street and Abeokuta. He employed two Europeans, over 20 Native Clerks and a general contingent of 100 Krooboys.
Williams was also a prominent landowner. In 1895 he owned 1,000 acres in Isheri, 500 acres in each of Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Igbologun and Porto Novo, and over 100 acres in Ikoyi in Lagos. He also owned a villa on Broad Street, which was leased to the Colonial Government, and "Manchester House" on the Marina, which was leased to the Lagos Stores and Tomlinson Ltd.
In celebration of Queen Victoria’s jubilee in 1887, Williams subscribed £100 (equivalent to £13,487.80 in 2021) towards the construction of the Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos .
Williams was one of four African members of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce when it was founded in 1888. The other African members were Richard Beale Blaize, J.W. Cole and J.J. Thomas, all of whom were also prominent businessmen at the time.
His successful business career earned him the nickname "the native Napoleon of West African Commerce."
An excerpt of August 7, 1895 edition of the Lagos Standard on biography of Z. A. Williams who was FRA Williams and Akintola Williams’ grandfather. Also the father of Adebesin Folarin, the first barrister judge in the customary courts in Nigeria.
Credit: Egba descendants Facebook page
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