Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki said the dead of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe,left me extremely shocked and devastated.
Dr.Wigwe , his wife, son and former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo and two others were killed in a helicopter crash in California, United States of America on Friday.
The chopper was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.
Obaseki stated in a press statement that
“We also unfortunately lost Wigwe’s wife and son as well as the former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the crash.
“The tragic incident is painful and heart wrenching and we pray for God’s abiding comfort in this profoundly difficult time.
“Wigwe was a colossus in Nigeria’s financial sector, leading Access Bank to become an international brand that placed Nigeria on the global map of first class financial services.
He commiserate with the Wigwe family, the Ogunbanjo family, Access Bank Holding, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, friends and associates and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
According to report the chopper transporting Herbert Wigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings crashed and killed him as well as about five others in California, United States of America.
The chopper was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.
Authorities said they have been unable to locate any survivors.San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said they had been made aware of the downed aircraft near Baker shortly after 10 pm on Friday.
They said in a statement “We are not able to confirm how many people were on board or their names. No survivors have been located.”
Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe born on 15 August 1966 is a top Nigerian banker, entrepreneur, and Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings. Wigwe began his illustrious career at Coopers & Lybrand, Lagos, where he honed his skills as a management consultant before becoming a qualified chartered accountant.
His journey in the banking sector took flight with stints at Capital Bank and GTBank, where he rose to prominence as the executive director in charge of institutional banking.
In 2002, Wigwe, alongside his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, made a pivotal move by acquiring shares in Access Bank, then a modest commercial bank ranked 65th among Nigeria’s financial institutions.
Their visionary leadership transformed Access Bank into one of the country’s top five banks and propelled it onto the global stage, earning accolades and recognition from industry peers.
Throughout his career, Wigwe held various leadership positions, including Chairman of Access Bank Ghana Limited and Access Investment & Securities Limited. He also served as the Chairman of Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) and Access Bank (UK) Limited. Additionally, he contributed his expertise as a board member of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and as a member of the advisory board for Friends Africa.
Herbert’s academic credentials include a degree in accountancy from the University of Nigeria, an MA in Banking and Finance from the University College of North Wales (now Bangor), and an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London. He also completed the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program, further enhancing his strategic acumen and leadership capabilities.