By ALEX ENEBELI

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has joined other well-meaning Nigerians and world leaders in mourning Mr Herbert Wigwe, the Co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc.

Wigwe; his wife, Chizoba; their son; a former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and others died in a helicopter crash on Feb. 9, on their way to Las Vegas, U.S.

The group, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, on Monday, said the group received with deep distress the news of the tragic death of one of their “most brilliant creative thinkers, an audacious achiever, trailblazer, innovative edifice, charismatic visionary and top banker”.

He said the enviable life trajectory of Wigwe underscores the widely acknowledged Igbo ingenuity, hard work, integrity, prudence and the capacity to turn adversity into a pool of opportunities.

“Wigwe proved to the entire world that the audacity of intellectual prowess, social skill, humility and honesty is far more impactful than the audacity of aristocracy.

“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is in a deep sorrow over the death of Herbert Wigwe,” he said.

He said the Igbo leader described the death of Wigwe as one death too many, saying he was exemplary in diverse ways, a motivator, a beacon of hope and a change agent with a robust vision.

“Iwuanyanwu lamented that Nigeria has lost a rare gem; an ebullient young man with an incredible zest for excellence, infectious enthusiasm, irresistible warmth, character comeliness, benevolent spirit and public wizardry.

“Wigwe is one man who has changed the obscure narrative of Isiokpo with a network of asphalt roads, pipe borne water, solar lights and above all a university.

“His compassionate dispositions found expressions in the HOW Foundation, a non-profit organization, which takes care of the widows, the vulnerable and scholarship schemes to indigent university students both in his Isiokpo community and beyond,” he said.

Ogbonnia said Wigwe was born in Ibadan on Aug. 15, 1966; attended the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and passed out in 1987 with a second-class upper degree in Accounting.

“He is chartered accountant in 1989; MBA, North Wales University, UK, 1991; MSc, Fin. Economics, University of London; and the Harvard.

“His work experience took him through the Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited; Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), where he became an Executive Director; Deputy Managing Director and later the Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc.

“The Chairman of Access Bank Ghana Limited; Access Investment & Securities Limited; Chairman, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS); and the Chairman of Access Bank (UK) Limited and others,” Ogbonnia said.

He said Iwuanyanwu called on Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State to immortalize the memories of the late Wigwe.

He explained that it will serve as a very source of inspiration to the present day youths.

“The Igbo leader elaborates that at the young age of 32, Wigwe was already at the top echelon in the financial sector and at 36, he had already navigated the ownership of a bank; and incredibly transformed a fledgling bank into one of the top banking institutions in Nigeria with global networks.

“Iwuanyanwu sends his condolences to the Wigwe family, the Abimbola Ogunbanjo family, the Access Bank Plc, the good people of Omueke village, Isiokpo, community, the entire Ikwerre and the good people of Rivers State.

“He prays that the Almighty will grant the souls of Wigwe; his wife, Mrs Chizoba Nwigwe and the son, Chizi Wigwe an eternal rest in his bosom”. (NAN)

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