PHOTO: Meet Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams, Nigeria’s First Lawyer

Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams (July 14, 1855 – March 15, 1915), son of an Ijesha father from Ilesha, Osun State and an Egba mother from Abeokuta, Ogun State, was the first indigenous Nigerian lawyer, called to the English bar. He also played a prominent political role during Nigeria’s colonial days.
Williams was the elder brother of Oguntola Odunbaku Sapara (1861—1935), a prominent physician who was best known for his campaign against secret societies that were spreading smallpox.
When Northern and Southern Nigeria were united in 1914, the new legislative council was headed by the Governor, and consisted of seven British officials, two British non-officials and two Nigerians, one of whom was Williams. He died on March 15, 1915. He was 59. (Source: HistoryVille)