President Bola Tinubu, his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other dignitaries yesterday honoured the memory of the late MD/CEO of Access Corporation, Herbert Wigwe, describing him as not just a banker but also a builder of institutions, lives and societies.
The late Herbert Wigwe died on February 9, 2024, after the helicopter in which they were travelling crashed near Nipton, California, United States of America.
Also involved in the crash were his wife, Chizoba Wigwe; his 29-year old son, Chizi Wigwe, former Nigerian Exchange Group Plc Chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two crew members.
To honour the memory of late Herbert, Doreen and Chizi, Access Corporation family held a first year memorial service in Lagos, attended by dignitaries, including Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor, Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Chairman, Access Corporation, MD/CEO, Access Bank, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna and top executives of the bank.
Tinubu, in his tribute, which was delivered by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said the late Wigwe was not just a banker but also a builder of institutions and dreams.
Late Herbert, according to the President, embodies vision,excellence and generosity, and was deeply committed to uplifting society.
“His impact was deeply felt in the lives he touched, opportunities created and the hopes he inspired,” he added.
On his part, President Macron described the late Wigwe as an exceptional entrepreneur, a friend of art, and a friend of a France.
“As Chairman of the Nigeria-France Business Council, he made a major contribution to our bilateral relationship and to the friendship between our two countries, France and Nigeria,’’ President Macron said.
In his tribute, Obasanjo, said late Wigwe embodied resilience and true partnership.
The late Wigwe, he said, “was a man of profound character. Despite his current success, he remained accessible and deeply committed to nurturing relationships. He understood that true leadership isn’t just about building institutions, but about building people.
“His legacy stands as a testimony to what Africans can achieve through vision, determination and transformation, as well as collaboration, collaborative leadership.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu in his tribute, said Lagos State described late Wigwe as a builder of men and businesses, who turned vision into reality.
“He believed in Nigeria. He believed in Africa, in our capacity to rise beyond our circumstances and build institutions that will stand the test of time,’’ he said.
Lagos State, according to Sanwo-Olu, strongly feels the absence of the late banker, adding that there were projects in the state today that would have moved faster if Wigwe was still alive.
The late banker, according to him, made his work as governor easier, as he was always helping Lagos State to mobilise partners and funding for projects.
In an emotional and inspiring keynote address, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, described late Herbert as an embodiment of passion and purpose, legacy and integrity.
In Wigwe, Mottley said, “I found a man who had both purpose and passion and for whom obstacles were simply the decorations of life that we found along the pathway, but not the obstacles to progress.
“I believe that Herbert did enough to ensure that his legacy will live on. And the testimonies that we have heard from this platform this evening and the passion that we have heard from others will truly ensure that that legacy lives on.”
Chairman, Access Corporation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, in his tribute, said the decision to partner with Wigwe was one of the two most important decisions in his life
He said: ‘’We shared the most intense relationship, sweet in good times, bad times, celebration, moments of despair.
‘’We both had the privilege to share real and true trust. The purity of our partnership is evident in our children The tribute I pay today to Herbert is that we were both prepared to entrust to each other with the things that were most important to us.”
In an emotional and inspiring keynote address, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, described late Herbert Wigwe as an embodiment of passion and purpose, legacy and integrity.
In Wigwe, Mottley said, “I found a man who had both purpose and passion and for whom obstacles were simply the decorations of life that we found along the pathway, but not the obstacles to progress.
“I believe that Herbert did enough to ensure that his legacy will live on. And the testimonies that we have heard from this platform this evening and the passion that we have heard from others will truly ensure that that legacy lives on.”
