Herbert Wigwe, the CEO of Access Holdings Plc, tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in California. His untimely demise has sent shockwaves through the African business community, leaving many in mourning.
Herbert began his professional journey with Coopers & Lybrand Associates, an esteemed international firm of Chartered Accountants. He then dedicated over a decade to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, managing various portfolios, including financial institutions, large corporates, and multinationals.
Here, we look back at key moments from his illustrious career through a selection of photos:
Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe was born on August 15, 1966 in Isiokpo, Port Harcourt, Rivers StatePhoto of Herbert Wigwe, accepting the award of Top 25 CEO on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2018.Hebert is pictured with his wife Chizoba, who also died in the helicopter accidentIn 2018, Hebert celebrated Children’s Day with Makoko Slum2school KidsWigwe was happily married to Chizoba Wigwe, and the marriage is blessed with four children.In September 2023, Hebert posted this image on his LinkedIn with the caption: “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. – Nelson Mandela”In 1990, Wigwe won the British Council Scholarship to do his masters at North Wales University (now Bangor University). In 1991, he got his masters in Banking and Finance.In 2015, Nigerian newspaper The Punch described him as “one of Nigeria’s stylish top executives”Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (L) and Herbert Wigwe (R) – acquired Access Bank in 2002 and turned it into one of the biggest banking lenders in Nigeria, with subsidiaries across Africa, Europe and Asia.In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was conferred on Hebert Wigwe by President Muhammadu Buhari.In 2018, he received a Honorary Doctorate from his Alma Mater, University of Nigeria, Nsukka[L-R]: Ex-Group Managing Director Diamond Bank Uzoma Dozie and Herbert Wigwe posed for a photo at the Lagos City Marathon in 2019In giving back to society, he built a $500 million eponymous university in his hometown in Rivers State
