Access Bank Plc’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in the United States.
The crash, which occurred on the evening of Friday, February 9, 2024, claimed the lives of six people, including Wigwe’s wife and son. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is currently conducting an investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of the crash.
Herbert Wigwe was traveling with family members in a Eurocopter EC 130 chopper owned by Chris Ogunbanjo when it crashed near Nipton, California, about 60 miles from Las Vegas.
The victims were reportedly en route to the Super Bowl match between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Wigwe, a 57-year-old co-founder of Access Bank, has left behind a significant legacy in the banking industry.
Before co-founding Access Bank in 2002, Wigwe had a long and successful career in the financial sector, including stints at Cooper & Lybrand (now PwC) and GTBank.
His efforts alongside his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, transformed Access Bank from a small commercial bank into one of the top five banks in Nigeria and one of the top 500 global banks. The bank currently serves 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.
Wigwe’s untimely passing is a significant loss to the banking industry and has left a profound impact on his colleagues, employees, and the wider community. His legacy and contributions will undoubtedly be remembered and honored in the years to come.
