The group CEO of Access bank, Dr Herbert Wigwe died in a helicopter crash in the United States, alongside his wife Doreen wigwe, his Son Chizi Wigwe and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
Wigwe and his family were headed to Las Vegas to watch the Super Bowl when the helicopter crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday February 9th around 10pm.
Access Holdings confirmed the death of Herbert Wigwe in a statement on Sunday, describing him as a key driving force and a larger-than-life personality, who brought his remarkable passion, energy, and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise, since joining the Bank in 2002.
Ojy Okpe, interviewed Herbert Wigwe, in July 2019 and he gave an insight to his values, personal style and his most treasured possessions. Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi, chairman of heirs holdings Tony Elumelu, and Billionaire Philanthropist, Femi Otedola among others have paid tribute to Herbert Wigwe and Abimbola Ogunbanjo who they described as Two of Africa’s Brightest minds.
In May 2023, Herbert Wigwe emerged as the president of the France-Nigeria business council, a council, which brings together top businesses in Nigeria and France to improve business relations and to ensure routine cooperation for both countries.
The President of France Emmanuel Macron took to facebook to share his tribute. Herbert Wigwe was also instrumental in the growth of Access Bank, which he co-founded with his friend and business partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Herbert Wigwe was among the 447 Nigerians conferred with national honors by President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022, He received the Commander of the Order of the Niger in recognition of his significant contributions and outstanding service to the country.
Herbert Wigwe’s philanthropic endeavors saw him set up the HOW Foundation which is focused on education, health, youth empowerment and sustainability. The Foundation has over the years committed several billions of naira to upgrade and support 23 Primary Health Care Centres across Rivers State in five years, train 75 doctors in Israel and the United States as well as support the education of 13,000 Almajiri children in Kaduna State, among several interventions. Dr. Wigwe recently founded Wigwe University, Africa’s first ‘ivy league’ institution dedicated to providing a world-class education and raising the next generation of fearless leaders.
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