The Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, tragically passed away on Friday in a helicopter accident in California, United States. Here are 11 essential things to know about Wigwe:
1. Herbert Wigwe was 58 years old at the time of his passing, having been born on August 15, 1966.
2. He held a degree in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.
3. Additionally, Wigwe attained 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.
4. His career commenced at Coopers & Lybrand, Lagos, as a management consultant, where he later qualified as a chartered accountant.
5. After working at Capital Bank, he joined Guaranty Trust Bank, where he dedicated over a decade to corporate and institutional banking, ultimately rising to become the executive director in charge of institutional banking.
6. Wigwe also held significant positions such as Chairman of Access Bank Ghana Limited, Access Investment & Securities Limited, and Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS). He was the Chairman of Access Bank (UK) Limited until his untimely demise.
7. In 2016, Wigwe was inaugurated as the State Patron for Lagos State Council by the Boys’ Brigade (BB) in recognition of his exemplary role in society and contributions to youth development.
8. Wigwe was honored as the 2016 Banker of The Year by The Sun and Vanguard newspapers.
9. Notably, in 2016, he established The HOW Foundation, a non-profit organization.
10. In October 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred upon him the Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
11. Herbert Wigwe was the visionary behind Wigwe University, situated in Isiokpo, Rivers State, with plans for the university to kick off in September 2024.
