Access Bank has confirmed the tragic death of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Herbert Wigwe.
Mr. Wigwe and five others, including his wife and son, were killed in a helicopter crash in the United States of America on the evening of Friday, February 9, 2024.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the crash, which also involved the National Transportation Safety Board. The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC 130 chopper, crashed near Nipton, California, around 10:00 p.m., approximately 60 miles from Las Vegas. The victims were reportedly travelling to see the Super Bowl on Sunday, a match between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Herbert Wigwe, 57, was a co-founder of Access Bank and had a distinguished career in the banking industry. He had previously worked at professional services firm, Cooper & Lybrand (now PwC), and Capital Bank before joining GTBank. In 2002, he co-founded Access Bank, which has since grown to become one of the top five banks in Nigeria, serving over 6.5 million account-holders through 350 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs in major centers across Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the UK.
The passing of Dr. Herbert Wigwe is a great loss to Access Bank and the communities it serves. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to social impact initiatives have left an indelible mark on Access Holdings. His legacy will be remembered and cherished.
The entire Access Bank family mourns the loss of Dr. Herbert Wigwe and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.
