Wigwe: Life And Times Of A Banking Wizard

On Friday, February 9, 2024, the clock stopped ticking for one of the brightest bankers the African continent has seen, Dr. Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings, Nigeria’s biggest financial institution.

He was killed in a helicopter crash on his way from California to Nevada along with his wife, Doreen and son, Chizi.

In a sober mood, the Board of Direc­tors of Access Holdings Plc on Sunday said, “The Board of Directors of Ac­cess Holdings Plc has announced the passing of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR, the Company’s founding Group Chief Ex­ecutive Officer and former Group Man­aging Director of its flagship subsid­iary, Access Bank Plc. Dr. Wigwe died alongside his wife and son on Friday, February 9, 2024, in a helicopter acci­dent in the United States of America.

“The entire Access Family mourns the loss of Herbert, Doreen and Chizi. We extend our deep and sincere sympa­thies to his family and loved ones. Dr. Wigwe was 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”.

Commenting on the passing of Dr. Wigwe, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, Chair­man of Access Holdings said, “The Access Family has suffered a major loss with the passing of Dr. Wigwe who was a great friend and fine gentleman. He had a prodigious intellect, admirable personal qualities, and vast business experience which he brought to bear on the Access Family and for which we owe him a debt of gratitude. We remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.”

Wigwe was instrumental in the growth of Access Bank, which he co-founded with his friend and business partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.

He took over as Access Bank Group CEO in 2014, focusing on the Bank’s ex­pansion in Nigeria and Africa before taking the helm at Access Holdings in 2022. Under his leadership, Access Bank drove its African strategy to become Sub Saharan Africa’s largest retail bank by customer base.