Exactly a year after his painful demise, friends,associates, colleagues and many dignitaries gather to celebrate the memory of a banking guru called Herbert Wigwe
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the late Herbert Wigwe was a firm believer in and supporter of his administration’s development programmes since inception in 2019.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during the First Year Memorial Service in honour of Wigwe, his wife Doreen, and son, Chizi, organised by the Access Holdings at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The memorial service was attended by the late Wigwe’s family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones, as well as President Emmanuel Macron of France; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Governors Sanwo-Olu and his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; present and former public office holders; captains of industries; renowned bankers; and business tycoons.
Sanwo-Olu also said the state has felt the absence of the late Group Managing Director of the Access Holdings, very strongly, since his passing in the last one year.
He said there are projects that would have been delivered faster if Wigwe, the co-founder of Access Holdings, was alive, noting that “across the states there are projects with Herbert Wigwe’s footprint.”
It would be recalled that Herbert, Doreen and Chizi lost their lives alongside the former Chairman of the Nigeria Exchange Group (NGX), Bimbo Ogunbanjo, in a helicopter crash in the Mojave Desert near the California-Nevada border in United States on February 9, 2024.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while paying glowing tributes to the late Group Managing Director of the Access Holdings, one year after his death, described the late Wigwe as a believer in the works of his government.
Sanwo-Olu said late Wigwe was a builder of not just businesses but also people, ideas and the future, adding that his death was a reality “we never prepared for.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu described Wigwe as a visionary who believed in Nigeria and Africa’s capacity to rise above challenges, adding that he was not just a friend but a brother with whom he shared the vision of good governance and passion for the people together.
He said, “He lived perpetually in the present and the future. He believed in actions, not just words. I saw him transform vision into reality. When others hesitated, he moved. When others saw obstacles, he saw opportunities. He truly believed in Nigeria and Africa.
“He was a builder of men and businesses, turning visions into reality. His absence is deeply felt in Lagos State, as there are projects today that would have progressed faster if he were still with us. Herbert made my work easier by mobilising partners and funding for state projects.”
Speaking earlier, President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said Wigwe’s impact was not confined to the “boardroom and balance sheet.”
President Tinubu, in his tribute delivered by Edun, described the late Wigwe as more than just a banker but a builder of dreams and institutions.
“Herbert embodied vision, excellence, and generosity. He was deeply committed to uplifting society. His impact was felt in the lives he touched, opportunities he created, and hopes he inspired,” he said.
President Emmanuel Macron also praised Wigwe as an exceptional entrepreneur and a friend of France.
“He made significant contributions as Chairman of the Nigeria-France Business Council, strengthening the bilateral relationship and friendship between France and Nigeria,” he noted.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo highlighted Wigwe’s resilience and dedication to partnership, noting that “despite his success, he remained accessible and committed to nurturing relationships. He understood that true leadership involves building both institutions and people. His legacy is a testament to what Africans can achieve through vision, determination, and collaboration.”